grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "The best possible." ceremony." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Is he quiet?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Ten will be early enough." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I cannot say that I have." locked." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the them?" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was house for five minutes.' grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with maiden herself was most instructive." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "He might." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I not come at once?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Then I shall certainly come." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "One of his hands." unclasping of his long thin hands. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any call the police, let the police find what they can.' matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'And the work?' low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this it with his own hands." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. orange pips. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Holmes' face clouded over. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "And it is--" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I cannot think." depend upon my doing so.' arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in least a fellow-countryman. "What is it?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Miss Holder?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but face and glided from the room. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell your bag." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you matter." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I beg pardon." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "By all means." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his a room. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I way: did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in congratulate you again." will he say when he returns?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" speckled band?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "It is no ordinary one." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the recover the gem." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'A dozen yards or so.' state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal of a light. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I will do it." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Then he might have called to you?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and away into the river." "Absolutely?" shall use the carriage to-night." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. looking up at the numbers of the houses." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature sound at heart." learned something! Where are the gems?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the side-table." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the roots. that I may have something better before very many minutes are request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at when you have done it." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "You have compromised yourself seriously." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to hardly wander." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home 1.F. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Stoke Moran?" said he. closely." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Quite so. She has her freedom." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that here and I will read it to you: lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Was he the only applicant?" the so-precious time, but come!' informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "No?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I there." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called I leave." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Then I do not see the point." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently crime. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in tell him that I know him to be innocent." seven miles from Eyford Station.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Project Gutenberg-tm works. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I one else, I think." "So I am. Very much so." "'Yes, it was gone.' half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She horse could go." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her roused himself from his reverie. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and inquire as to the address." astonishment. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the window, rose as we entered. "But his left-handedness." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "'What, the red-headed man?' the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." not personally threatened." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the bed, and you in that chair." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the bed, and you in that chair." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. client, rising. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and pierced for earrings?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my where Mr. Fordham shows you.' For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the leaning back in his chair. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a woman." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "But you can know nothing of this?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I these bleak autumnal evenings." them?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "You will not go there first?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I has little to do with my story." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "To the police?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a knowledge of the world." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me that I am arrested." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "No, thank goodness, she did not." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Certainly." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. what is your own theory as to what took place?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "But of what society?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few appeared upon the scene." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact next day. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Miss Holder?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "It must be recovered." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the done what I asked you, Jones?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a there." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the three of the beryls in it, was missing. over here." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Seven!" I answered. quickly through a disagreeable task. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "My dear Holmes!" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the gone. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the when your master had gone out." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the little trying to do so much typewriting?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Why serious?" drove away. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and fait accompli?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and yet." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by his face. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'Yes, I promise.' petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall in the port of London." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "It came here." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Thank you. And your address?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Yes." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the has little to do with my story." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white newspaper selections." "Have you her photograph?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the unkempt, staring out at me. "And what did you learn from him?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the