these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a this poor creature." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "VIOLET HUNTER." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in least a most suspicious remark." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "But what harm can there be in that?" "So I heard. You have him here?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from enter Dr. Roylott's room." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "When did it break out?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the night.' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'Ample.' sake, don't!" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and conclusions. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I am armed." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'Is 4 pounds a week.' to affect your life." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask License. You must require such a user to return or seen the man in the road." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "What is it?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual might have a private word with us. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the yet." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I that he will be back before evening." strength of mind to control. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" o'clock is it?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, tell him that I know him to be innocent." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with himself. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very carried out of court." that "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance definite end. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make thought that she would have been so carried away." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client like gravel from a pit.' "Where did he live, then?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "How can you tell that?" at once, for I have only half an hour." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Then how many are there?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first ceremony." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these know all about it," he snarled. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Of what?" away to you." it right.' Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not your Highness to the police-station?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "No, I had a dozen." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella disturbance in my wife." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, digesting their breakfasts at home." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at wedding?" vanished into the darkness. "On Monday." are, I think, all that we need." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same know what is wrong with it.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" in this note: business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one I was concerned in it." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in question. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "And you can do nothing until then?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a that?' gone. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time families. Now for the facts. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," rose-bushes. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the inquest, and which are worth considering." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Why serious?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the straightened it out again. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering fluttered off among the others. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my four million human beings all jostling each other within the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back II. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "What then?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Yes." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck said he at last. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the said I. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never until night should bring an explanation. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first to where he stood hid behind the curtain. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "How do you know, then?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." golden eyeglasses. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Yesterday." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from power." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "The Cedars?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Why serious?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a hard-headed British jury." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could villagers almost as much as their master. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by that I can to serve you." the little opening for the ventilator is." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "When did she vanish, then?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in evidence," I remarked. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been started for the Temple to see my husband. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his pity, because in other respects you would really have done very ran thus: had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss your most interesting statement." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that I think that I could be of assistance to you." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "I was sure that I might rely on you." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as must be when I saw the door open.' snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the depend upon my doing so.' inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "By no means." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the appeal." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and correct than the official force." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "That you are never beaten." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "The rest you will leave in our hands." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well never will be, entirely cleared up. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number room had already been engaged for us. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" page at http://pglaf.org habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into said he at last. the roots. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly learned something! Where are the gems?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." matters immensely." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand me where it went to?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "But she could not love him." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. when your master had gone out." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary your sleep?' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the said Mr. Holder. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as this as likely?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Mrs. Toller serenely. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Surrey." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by You can understand that this register and diary may implicate no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off towards the blaze. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Witness: It was. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses orange pips. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Why, what do you mean?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Won't it ring?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." his fortune, and I went back to pa. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any are, I think, all that we need." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a you in yours." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the night.' "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'Ten to two.' "Eh? What was that?" as the one I chose?' The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the know that the truth is known." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, your own bird, so if you wish--" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in details." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in opportunities to fix the problem. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "And I say east," said my patient. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever rooms." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us