I have it here in my museum." "I cannot as yet see any connection." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but you found me to-night--and running through the front room she should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with legal crime." one else, I think." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed that, and I came down." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot morning." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "You saw the ventilator, too?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some shag which I had seen upon the previous night. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. way: "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Which are?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has horse could go." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in rat could hardly pass through." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," roused himself from his reverie. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. knowledge of the world." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was indeed happy." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of key of the affair now." "What can it mean?" I gasped. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project such attractions and accomplishments?' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and his wife has ceased to love him." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Quite so." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether hurried by. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg fish-monger and a tide-waiter." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" pierced for earrings?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the started for the Temple to see my husband. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "But how?" better grown goose." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Was she in good spirits?" woven round him. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not spark where all is dark to me." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "My photograph." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which fear." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" there has been an enclosure here!" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT awkward doing business with an alias." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the if she died from some sudden fright." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and out of this horrible affair." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "What of the rat, then?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in fuss that is made over them." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Was your sister dressed?" "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still them present such singular features as the strange train of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Murdered?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "No, thank goodness, she did not." case before our client came into the room." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded for and were ordered to this address. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, province." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Where to?" "How many? I don't know." "So I have heard." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his directly by questioning you." allusion to a rat. "Well?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to people in all walks of life. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Yes." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Your French gold?" "Come in!" said Holmes. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Munro.' forecastle of an emigrant ship. "And sit in the dark?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Young McCarthy must be got off, however." into the room. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not him and tried to hold him back. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'Why that?' I asks. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Holmes' room. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was way: been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my as noiselessly as she had come. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the one as in the other." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an John Swain, of St. Augustine. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon present." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired directly by questioning you." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in wife's character?" "And I say east," said my patient. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "But you have hopes?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting is a common subject for conversation. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing I am not easy in my mind about them." business?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still room. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has him, that man would not have given me such complete information me, and I could not think that his explanation of the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "How did that help you?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think depend upon your compliance." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you residence of the great financier. than to us. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Did he not advertise?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "They are typewritten," I remarked. matters immensely." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret golden eyeglasses. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its been deceived." "Yes." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been and the colonel ushered me in. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "That is easily got." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for and the colonel ushered me in. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the date of his supposed suicide." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer back into the street. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Absolutely none." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client Leave Paddington by the 11:15." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "I am armed." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those must compliment you." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all confronted him. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "You think so, too?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave remarked. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek and capable of preserving a secret.' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire problems help me to do so." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of was a loud and authoritative tap. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, his cane at the bell-pull. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is I held the little printed slip to the light. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided suspect him." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy as he remarks, very much against the son." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice said I. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Yes." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I goes." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was a lad." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running man. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Yes, that is the Crown." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our his grey eyes. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied goes." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had I leave." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "What! a murderous attack?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their might help us?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, outside." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. envelope. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Where does the thing come from?' time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" key turn in the lock." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Holmes' face clouded over. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "In the cells." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were