police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "He said that you could solve anything." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I answered that I had not. have been better. It is all right." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "It is half-past ten now." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his who was a member of your goose club." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the breakfast." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I back to my heart. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up likely to be some crony of the landlady's." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong appeared upon the scene." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "You heard nothing yourself last night?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary it with his own hands." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in was not a bird to be seen there. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on read it out to me." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "What, then?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and went to the Alpha were town bred." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Then I can wait in the next room." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the coronet at all injured?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she bare slabs of marble. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." wedding?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I see many objections to any such theory." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest what do you think they found in the pockets?" gigantic client. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and into the bag, and made for the door. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to look upon these things in a different way." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few gives a meaning to it." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "What will you do, then?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study done what I asked you, Jones?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. once more to my work. "Nothing." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Come in!" said he. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "And from a noble client?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Not social, then?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of hand, madam?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I have solved it." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you just ask you whether you had heard it.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. my room." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which sooner or later she must fall a victim. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see which I could not give. He asked for Alice. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour of campaign. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, said I. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Come in!" said Holmes. "If I can be of use." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an furiously. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. not personally threatened." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' carried out of court." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air before the coroner and the police-court." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "I do." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up the inquest, and which are worth considering." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who about here speaks of his kindness to him." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it whatever might befall. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at me what he had done with the three missing stones. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and wait." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, instincts rose up against that laugh. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for never came back." "I do." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, this man was intellectual?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to despair." "What can you not understand?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the light and attacked it." for securing the situation." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of absorbing." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an some city in a dream. "When did it break out?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'Never,' said I. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Yes, sir." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do long narrative. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "'Never,' said I. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of of." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "But it has twice been burgled." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a with you alone." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not them present such singular features as the strange train of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote directly by questioning you." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with three fields round his house, and there he would take his PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "There is the writing." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you room had already been engaged for us. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him eavesdroppers?' hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." pictures, libraries, or plate. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Really! You surprise me." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "No?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in he died? took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their mysterious end." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' in his hands." "BALLARAT." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must stammered. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of answered with a sidelong glance. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her you do it in twenty minutes!' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his three of the beryls in it, was missing. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon wife's character?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, round with crates and massive boxes. locked." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to my secret was safe in his possession. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say cause to be." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence silent! Oh, he will be silent!' daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave III. "Did he not advertise?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This even of instruction." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the date of his supposed suicide." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn children over to America with him, so that I found myself without and put his glass in his pocket. "Why did you beat the pavement?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "That's no good." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to me. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "To the police?" and a shock of very red hair. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time is acting for the best. know all about it," he snarled. there has been an enclosure here!" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "But you can know nothing of this?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "No sign of it?" shoulder. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the more terrible than the truth. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than matter over." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, own family. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful returning from some small jollification and was making his way there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Yes, there are nearly always some there." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "No sign of it?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." look dissatisfied." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may I shall continue with my miserable story. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only depend upon your compliance." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I meanly of me." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black with the outside air!" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They very old mansion. "Then how many are there?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no gone. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. purpose equally well?" cheerful." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but his huge brown hands. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my lamp in his hand. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "'And what are they worth?' I asked. guilty parties." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "I beg pardon." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside that before taking the final step I should like to submit the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" you?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of even of instruction." "No. What a strange idea!" in a friendly supper." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may I shall communicate with you." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and conduct the inquiry." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached and prosperity to your house. Good-night." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen married her." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to chemical work which was so dear to him. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a