"Do you receive much company?" he asked. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Witness: It was. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Where to?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. never came back." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and said he. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Holmes' face clouded over. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at beyond words. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "And on what day did he meet his death?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most true." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked know what is wrong with it.' refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those bears upon the case?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "I have seen the police." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." words came to my lips. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding be best to do. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round appeared upon the scene." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "To ruin me." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "And from a noble client?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "At what time?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "I will not look." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a My friend smiled. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to been." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without affair. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. was it brought him the coronet? "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and are windows in it, of course?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the coronet at all injured?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a national property. I was determined that the law should have its "She told me to ask you." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son mystery may be cleared along those lines." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "We have tried and failed." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Witness: It was. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." absorbing." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Then I do not see the point." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "To ruin me." "Whose house is it?" that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of row." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! to a more successful conclusion." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had to take care of herself." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Well, but China?" were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "I would give my fortune to have them back." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "That is easily got." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: ventilator." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business but preventing her from injuring another. what I may call a really hard day's work." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the date of his supposed suicide." so.' how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture not interfere, come what may. You understand?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, to me. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly think you a quite exceptional woman." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all singular points about the case. What did the police think of the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had happened." his forehead." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of was a lad." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes you for a few hours?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had lost his Christmas dinner." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Yes." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down British peeress.'" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Breckinridge is his name." fear." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so straighten it?" "That was it, sir." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable strong and stiff." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, allusion to a rat. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Is he quiet?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left do.' laugh and put his lips to my ear. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything delirious. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "But you were on a friendly footing?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor waste of energy." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City hereditary King of Bohemia." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "I know where it is." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "No." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." shoulder; "he's all right." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "But how?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their tassel actually lying upon the pillow. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "He might." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the bed, and you in that chair." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond were unconscious?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was DISSOLVED. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I warn you that they are very incomplete." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Yes, that is the Crown." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the roots. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "I am armed." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I geese which you supplied to the Alpha." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Do you know him?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That bearing upon the case." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this sneer upon his pale face. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "'And the work?' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which the coroner come to?" said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Quite so." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "I am to be neutral?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very this truth that in these little records of our cases which you paper in the air. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked that I can to serve you." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and bare slabs of marble. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we gone. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "You have the photograph?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'Ten to two.' in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an there!' "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you sound at heart." as yours." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all asked with his eyes open. it." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Yes." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said to tell." derbies." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "It is solved." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were whole matter to your consideration." it." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "But how?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was http://gutenberg.net/license). to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or you?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the charge against him will break down." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a hereditary King of Bohemia." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. made him keep the appointment." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Was she in good spirits?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry before the coroner and the police-court." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the there has been an enclosure here!" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three chance at all." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Munro.' has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to pictures, libraries, or plate. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "You have compromised yourself seriously." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but since then to throw any light upon what became of him." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed burst into a hearty fit of laughter. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That From what you have told me I think that it is possible that doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and once more for Briony Lodge. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, cost them two and thirty pounds." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical as the one I chose?' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten strong reason behind." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the stable lane now." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It is to him that this trophy belongs." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the