"Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "The Coroner: What do you mean? "And now?" I asked. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Indeed! Whose, then?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'Ten to two.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Not in a good cause." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and useful material for showing traces. The double line a little cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you read it out to me." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, should be so warm over such a trifle." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "But how will you look?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "But he might be a bachelor." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "What?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "And what did you see?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." wedding?" exactly what you advise." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and retorted upon me, and I on you." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" several quiet little villages up there." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself notes," he said. "'How far from the body?' league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, asked. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most had no one to advise her at such a crisis." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Very much so." tear off another piece?' appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the again, where I was soon asleep. I was concerned in it." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "So it appears." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." at my own good fortune. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the question," said Holmes, smiling. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, on in his house." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Entirely." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Which are?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through carriage. It was a chestnut." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think posted to-day." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Not yet." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "And it is--" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "I cannot say that I have." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the house with me." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I say it is." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "How are you getting on?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so feature." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the night.' backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out said he, "my real name is James Ryder." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the ready to-morrow?' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "On your arm?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, too. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' been anything against him. He had for years been known as a comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "What will you say?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House examine." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of tell them apart.' liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Why did you pick him?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "9th. McCauley cleared. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." opportunities to fix the problem. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade will be renamed. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' for and were ordered to this address. "It's nothing of the kind." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "One horse?" interjected Holmes. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I should wish to." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "No." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; in the port of London." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Oh, the cause is excellent!" explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most that?' "Oh, fresh and glossy." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, forecastle of an emigrant ship. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the in the dead of the night?' me where it went to?" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both as noiselessly as she had come. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how daring than any effort of the imagination." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" everything which you would wish to know." "And your father? Did you tell him?" be there in time for your coming." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "BALLARAT." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." fact, we may call it conclusive." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, at a side door. tail." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock shag which I had seen upon the previous night. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily certainly not very gracious." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No have one." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each never will be, entirely cleared up. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To appeal." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Leadenhall Street--and--" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his matter." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were where Mr. Fordham shows you.' of campaign. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "'And the work?' beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "You think that he is dead?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out and the colonel ushered me in. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Pray continue your narrative." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "'I am sure that I do not know.' should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" companion. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "But you can know nothing of this?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, there was no need for father to know." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had My friend smiled. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his his cane at the bell-pull. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' despaired of." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other late." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black appeal." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Oh, fresh and glossy." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and if only as a check to my own memory." would then never go into court at all." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "The murder was done with it." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," shall use the carriage to-night." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out like that before?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the was not a bird to be seen there. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "But the mystery?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "But she will refuse." "Yes, he did." writing, and yet I know it well." "Absolutely?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Well, it is a possible supposition." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "None." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found she has been waylaid. There has been no result." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was about. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My joking. there was no need for father to know." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "But what harm can there be in that?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. that I can to serve you." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was child?' "'Yes, I promise.' little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled was a perfect sample of the class. nice household for a young lady." ventilator." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. corner of the building. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As washing it down with a long draught of water. at once, for I have only half an hour." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, chance." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "And how did you find out?" galvanised. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Nothing." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It back alive. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Yes, but only for you and me." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at retorted upon me, and I on you." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "That's no good." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not business in the City. She little knew what. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the bed, and you in that chair." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "And leave your case unfinished?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it points to suicide?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "What I expected to see." the coronet in his hands?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "The knees of his trousers." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more sparkled upon his finger. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. her also." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Her father is very rich?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly where she found matters as described by the last witness. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. and it need not interfere very much with one's other he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the and have this put in the evening papers." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Certainly." other lovers by making love himself." seem to you to be relevant or not." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "But it has twice been burgled." to affect your life." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the child." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into