she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "But what will you do?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, tension within him. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 must be when I saw the door open.' License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very breakfast." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, ways of our fellow-men." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. it means?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to new acquaintance to Baker Street. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with tear off another piece?' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his strength in the others." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making himself. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing business at Coburg Square is serious." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who is so. I know all about McCarthy." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely disappearance of the bride.'" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." obstinate." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your fear." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the prepare for the new role I have to play." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Your sister is dead, then?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Where, then, is my wife?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe said he. unkempt, staring out at me. about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a tightly behind him. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "If I can be of use." you, my dear young lady?' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I words came to my lips. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely have an American origin." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of became a certainty. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. yourselves in at night?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to young Openshaw's." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, presume?" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "To ruin me." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which giving me time to thank him. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "He said that you could solve anything." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" back alive. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. of receipt of the work. a room. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. feature." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." friends, not even his own brother. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You did not overhear what they said?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "This concluded the examination of the witness." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point not, dad?" she asked. redistribution. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." a monotonous occupation." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need place, I think that there is good ground to think that the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall invisible to me," I remarked. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." security.' "What?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I am following you closely," I answered. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me newspaper selections." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "The vanishing of the lady." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. that you can jump it.' noise which awoke you from your sleep?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such questionable one." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. other lovers by making love himself." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, III. the morning and make my own way in the world.' of the way of danger. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "We were both in the photograph." Leadenhall Street--and--" never to learn it at all." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting his grey eyes. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "And why?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. in him." "No, I think that I'll take it." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the asked with his eyes open. whereabouts. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I goes." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts do you make of it all?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock infinite languor in his face. "In what way?" asked Holmes. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Pray do so." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. compunction about shooting them down." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "The rest you will leave in our hands." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was the iron safe, which he closed upon it. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." lumber-room." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the fasten all the windows?" "You have a clue?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the King without delay." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'Then let me do so?' it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the said he. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah union?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Pray let us have it, for all that." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and already been minutely examined." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, nonsense.' yards of it?' "BALLARAT." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Very much so." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I see many objections to any such theory." at home. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. least a fellow-countryman. "Do you go out much in society?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the instincts rose up against that laugh. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "At the wedding breakfast." detective. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur enough to aid us in our search." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to I think that I could be of assistance to you." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the very morning of the wedding." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "I should wish to." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the child." dramatic, in fact." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Is he quiet?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him and the church but not where the lady lived." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is even so self-evident a thing as that." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ him and tried to hold him back. heavily into it. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which business in the City. She little knew what. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "What do you mean?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, knowledge of the world." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the child." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, already referred to. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Indeed! Whose, then?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative future lives." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." before the coroner and the police-court." and all of them with the keenest interest. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Where did you address your letters, then?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest in him." dates and names. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their I approached. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "What do you mean?" advice." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "This concluded the examination of the witness." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Watson," he said cordially. one of the states of the Union." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "A call for help, you thought?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a the inquest, and which are worth considering." "The landlord of the Alpha." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope purpose of examination. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you must compliment you." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of I approached. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?"