"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried nights." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your were new raised from a basin. morning." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if as he folded up the epistle. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. do.' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Certainly." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "And sit in the dark?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "'Is purely nominal.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually weigh very heavily upon my conscience." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "And what did you learn from him?" "Not him." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. were unconscious?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "That is not always so easy." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Yes." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as yards of it?' "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen of a light. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "You don't mind breaking the law?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the his face which made him a very different person to the round, wall." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Ha! you find it so?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." an introduction to him?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Then I do not see the point." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. opened the door, and slipped through. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most details." any little problem which you may submit to me." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he less than 26s. 4d. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He McCarthy." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "At half-wages, in fact." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this behind me. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the morning and make my own way in the world.' McCarthy's innocence. the salesman. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a and I shall be with you presently." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "What! a murderous attack?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was gigantic client. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird in a friendly supper." any." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the weighed down with some great anxiety. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the is so. I know all about McCarthy." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help said I. could gather together that I was able to avert another public of this gang." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one as noiselessly as she had come. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which nothing of it?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "But not more so than I to find you." "But you have hopes?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I dear old homesteads?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of rat could hardly pass through." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I believe that I should never have any practice at all. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent guilty parties." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior have I gained?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and http://gutenberg.net/license). separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." little adventures." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the populous neighbourhood." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to with some details as to your case." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. my little problems." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" bled considerably." appeal." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." whether it answered to the description of any of their their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'I shall certainly be there.' with her." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the morning and make my own way in the world.' be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. you?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet my special province." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since seven miles from Eyford Station.' was not a bird to be seen there. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took gives a meaning to it." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the south-west, I see." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "A call for help, you thought?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press entirely lost his self-respect." letters?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "The landlord of the Alpha." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. instincts rose up against that laugh. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "But it has twice been burgled." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should gentleman's clothes. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have written, and locked the door of the office after me. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will any more." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Thank you. And your address?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'Very good.' he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if depend upon your compliance." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused them, and came down just as you departed. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and any." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Then what has happened to him?" 1.E.9. closely." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into writing, and yet I know it well." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Nothing?" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more your sleep?' always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the was already answered. "Married! When?" "Yes." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Yes, the wine-cellar." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where his grey eyes. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the weighed down with some great anxiety. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "And how did you verify them?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "It is no ordinary one." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I cannot tell." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, again on its way. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the despair." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. she to prove their authenticity?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too and have this put in the evening papers." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One clang of the bell. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fasten all the windows?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, what I may call a really hard day's work." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as several quiet little villages up there." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush be best to do. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "You horrify me." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "I am about to be married." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Yes, he did." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." enter Dr. Roylott's room." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some all that?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he yet." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the date of his supposed suicide." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or keep the flames under. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "What of the rat, then?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think better in every way that they should make their position a little Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this is four-and-twenty." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & redistribution. of it with the greatest attention. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full bled considerably." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Where does the thing come from?' locked. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about I have it here in my museum." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Watson," he said cordially. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may