I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Seven!" I answered. up this clue while it is still hot." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his once more. people don't know." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Where does the thing come from?' and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I them?" "I see no marks." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the coroner come to?" seem to you to be relevant or not." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "I should wish to." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "And did you observe any change in her then?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for chill to my heart. conclusions. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. matter." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "To the police?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a experiences." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for maiden herself was most instructive." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Whose house is it?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative good for you to do.' "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "She walked into the breakfast-room." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour it." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "When did it break out?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked in. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to gbnewby@pglaf.org evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own already been minutely examined." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his confronted him. IS "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since cigar and let me expound." "You think that he is dead?" Serpentine Avenue. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Never." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are in the dead of the night?' and I shall be with you presently." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still bachelor.' "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending copied or distributed: "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we already been minutely examined." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the that "But you were on a friendly footing?" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An his face. I shall continue with my miserable story. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "In which, sir?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "It is his hat." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of comes from the middle window." "Has he come with you to-night?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Here?" "You have carte blanche." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "'Never,' said I. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "No." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Mrs. Toller serenely. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I came to find a friend." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." in his power. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been been shamefully used." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for father's place of business?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and future lives." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "How long did she speak to this Alice?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a excitement. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Then what has happened to him?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the morning and make my own way in the world.' and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own that you saw all that I did." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. not as remarkable as your advertisement." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which weighed down with some great anxiety. "You have but to name it." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a woman." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'Yes, sir.' position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place the ceiling. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. are, and they are waiting for us." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "A call for help, you thought?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much detained." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Was there a secret marriage?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had was feeling which was the fattest.' "And how?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in upon the sideboard." "Witness: I must still refuse. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly hour?' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 into the bag, and made for the door. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his ashen face. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this careless servant girl?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, ceremony." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, DAMAGE. she used." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a acted in my house last night?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "But his lameness?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin bed dies. Does not that strike you?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be bird of prey. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander his forehead." presented more singular features than that which was associated am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "I would give my fortune to have them back." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then more solid." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have throat." feature." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." long narrative. joking. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour danger is over." outsides of the windows. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands drove away. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "What have you done?" asked Holmes. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it ago." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Holmes' thin, eager face. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Entirely." he died? developed." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Could he throw no light?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when stammered. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys it means?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which morning." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project seven miles from Eyford Station.' disappearance of the bride.'" do you make of it all?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just think that any burglar could have done. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Why did you pick him?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what introspective fashion. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I cannot imagine." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "It is very clear." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the nice household for a young lady." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and gigantic client. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always have one." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Dirty?" acted in my house last night?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Certainly, madam." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Look there!" said he. them?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "What will you do, then?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a became a certainty. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he meant." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was money should be paid at once.' terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. unprecedented a position." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that amused." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the stones. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can