that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "But she could not love him." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows this Miss Turner." "Very. But will he see it?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "I have come for advice." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and written. spark where all is dark to me." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning asked. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic possible that we could bring him back to her? for the market.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Ah!" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee him to go away.' swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door existence." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from giving me time to thank him. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? to a light-house. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "And you thought he was pulled back?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of appeal." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been you in your example." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock security.' out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. written. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather could not have written that. It is the German who is so He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "You saw the ventilator, too?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out been." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together in. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no woman who has had her own way to make in the world. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears them?" beg that you will break it off." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" newspaper selections." "I answered that I had not. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I think it very unlikely." you understand?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "By no means." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There despaired of." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see hands. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the purpose equally well?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "I am to be neutral?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself here." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "'About the same.' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, goes." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building unprofitable." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Were they all fastened this morning?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down you." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my The King stared at him in amazement. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself of this gang." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "How often?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "What, then, did Peterson do?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "How did you deduce the select?" "You will not go there first?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from business." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long more solid." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his problems help me to do so." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San down. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "But she could not love him." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And you thought he was pulled back?" door?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It ago." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "When did she vanish, then?" in the dead of the night?' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's written. wedding?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the young Openshaw's." thirty. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "What will you do, then?" few hundred pounds.' defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed morning." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. affair. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "And how in the world did you find them?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "What steps will you take?" I asked. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Sutherland. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and business matters.' remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the Friday. Was it to be in church?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we dates and names. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that lumber-room." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Sutherland. your Highness to the police-station?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from sentimental considerations in the background which would induce Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "I will, Miss Turner." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in again before evening." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against was feeling which was the fattest.' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." room. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better is entirely a question of barometric pressure." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for province." friends, not even his own brother. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "The knees of his trousers." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his key turn in the lock." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Lee, in the county of Kent." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "I would pay ten." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards now. It seems that there had been some informality about their said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Was your sister dressed?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, residence of the great financier. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" own family. "Was she in good spirits?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that and laid it on the table. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Of what?" waste of energy." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "And for present expenses?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing public press." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. hereditary King of Bohemia." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "How many? I don't know." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and upon a handsome competence. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "I know where it is." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "And what did you learn from him?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was fat-encircled eyes. Where does the thing come from?' companion. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout hands. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. cup of tea. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny my friend's incisive reasoning. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in eat it." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment desk. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises that I can to serve you." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. she used." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "I have hopes." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew stepfather?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom,