at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could round with crates and massive boxes. for its centre. lumber-room." in one or two places in England?' client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "But not more so than I to find you." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been of your young ladies.' "BALLARAT." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave him and tried to hold him back. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "I promise," said Holmes. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric friend's singular character. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." affair. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Then I am your man." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry that I am arrested." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Lee, in the county of Kent." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My you for a few hours?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'It is locked up,' I answered. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her she used." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house started for the Temple to see my husband. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the a very grave face. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, in a friendly supper." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see I nodded again. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "The Cedars?" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered sneer upon his pale face. pound a week." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such outbreak?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet which our visitor detailed to us. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the what do you think they found in the pockets?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And what then?" "'I shall certainly be there.' "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become present." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." friends, not even his own brother. in my life." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, here and I will read it to you: He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." really the only notable feature about the thing." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." and all of them with the keenest interest. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but cigar and let me expound." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the could not have written that. It is the German who is so yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback simple cases which are so extremely difficult." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "You have the photograph?" "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me best detective that ever lived. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the bottom.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no know what is wrong with it.' seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already trying to your nerves." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a not interfere, come what may. You understand?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Who was the criminal, then?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless John Swain, of St. Augustine. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." through." ready to-morrow?' computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who galvanised. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in acted in my house last night?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master to where he stood hid behind the curtain. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this voice, changing her seat as requested. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The husband's writing, madam." fat-encircled eyes. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Then how many are there?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." conceal it?" some city in a dream. is acting for the best. "Come in!" said he. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Have you good authority for what you say?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, His smile broadened. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Stolen, then." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "It is very kind of you." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "She walked into the breakfast-room." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. feature." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward me what he had done with the three missing stones. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for has little to do with my story." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There never came back." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Pray do so." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to wedding?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." ventilator." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "He is still with you, I presume?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are a little more before I quite committed myself. "But you can know nothing of this?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I am to be neutral?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then was lame." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Not in a good cause." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our think, you have already met." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Yes, it was twisted." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Was he the only applicant?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove you, my dear young lady?' danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might unprofitable." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I was it brought him the coronet? strong and stiff." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "How are you getting on?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I everything which you would wish to know." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage done what I asked you, Jones?" less than 26s. 4d. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Very murderous indeed." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it is entirely a question of barometric pressure." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Here?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "What will you do, then?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should nothing of it?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Well, it is a possible supposition." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to retorted upon me, and I on you." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which you." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "In which, sir?" several quiet little villages up there." see a sister of mine apply for." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "No." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "'I have already given you my word.' as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A without a word or a look. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He hour?' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the before the coroner and the police-court." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that daring than any effort of the imagination." would then never go into court at all." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Where, then?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "But who is he?" education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind definite end. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "My photograph." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found call you and give you the chance." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled asked with his eyes open. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the to a light-house. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." you." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'Certainly not.' What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's against a man in the prime of life?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version chance." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father during the last few years, and there are many noble families to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "But how did you gain them?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a who was a member of your goose club." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the and laid it on the table. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew maid will bring up your coffee." entirely lost his self-respect." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so main points of my analysis." way: sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her any." "Yes, but only for you and me." guilty one." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and here." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress confronted him. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all results." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you light and attacked it." sofa. This way, please!" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Chief Executive and Director struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Really! You surprise me." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I would give my fortune to have them back." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Is he quiet?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently think that he is innocent?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was