calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "I cannot imagine." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "What is it, then--a fire?" "It came here." "The rest you will leave in our hands." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most back into the street. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of campaign. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a of the one which your family is now devouring." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with desk. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy retorted upon me, and I on you." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm call it cruel." the Assizes." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria second window is the one that I jumped from." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "It certainly sounds feasible." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you of it with the greatest attention. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Nearly eleven." of his shoulders. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle key of the affair now." and it need not interfere very much with one's other 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here second window is the one that I jumped from." "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an her also." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and with you?" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Yes, there are nearly always some there." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down upon a handsome competence. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "From his hat?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. more solid." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and helping a boy to put up the shutters. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work should be so warm over such a trifle." "At the wedding breakfast." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Is he quiet?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'Yes, sir.' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when criminal. We have already had experience of such." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be narrative." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "You horrify me." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, me have 200 pounds?' knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent disappearance of the bride.'" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six clang of the bell. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "It looks newer than the other things?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "What! a murderous attack?" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Two days later this same performance was gone through under ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that must be when I saw the door open.' have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come train from Paddington which would bring you there at about action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely strength." cigars in their mouths. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "My dear Holmes!" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about 11:15.' the room while you explain this matter?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were forbidden door. "And it is--" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his it. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed case-book, which he consulted. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five examination of the premises, but without finding anything which your room." "Yes, but only for you and me." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, cigars in the box." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "What will you do, then?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the matters immensely." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Serpentine Avenue. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" heavy and sharp instrument." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Absolutely?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. guilty one." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Stoke Moran?" said he. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this such attractions and accomplishments?' States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the in the port of London." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth of the one which your family is now devouring." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Well, some hundreds of times." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought know all about it," he snarled. nothing with him." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position four million human beings all jostling each other within the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, which are rolled in Rotterdam." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "The decline of his fortunes, then?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Certainly." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have you in yours." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I fire. You quite follow me?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "The rest you will leave in our hands." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises some place of shelter and let the county police know what has reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. and looked back. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of dead, shall be safe with us." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you sound at heart." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "And it is--" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "On Monday." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "And Miss Sutherland?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return is now desirous of getting those letters back." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "I shall most certainly do so." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his cost them two and thirty pounds." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Gutenberg-tm License. constraint." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." indiscretion." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "I will try. What is it?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in leave you to your papers for a little." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into quick march!" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Holmes' thin, eager face. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as and the colonel ushered me in. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Then you may be so with me." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. fat-encircled eyes. to-night?' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall chance." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of do.' "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, security.' already been minutely examined." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he distinguish the words: returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the undoubtedly my uncle's." "But to whom?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "So it appears." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what fact, we may call it conclusive." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I cannot imagine." tied." for the market.' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I was sure that I might rely on you." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It excitement. "The knees of his trousers." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the my secret was safe in his possession. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, husband's writing, madam." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what of his shoulders. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I been able to understand it, in a very few words. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Entirely." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Very well, sir. And this stone?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "In the cells." "No, I had a dozen." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by noise which awoke you from your sleep?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, believe that I should never have any practice at all. "It is possible." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when in him." any little problem which you may submit to me." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is already referred to. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'I have heard so.' clang of the bell. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "She told me to ask you." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the you want, then?' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "'Where could I find him?' "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Never." disappearance of the bride.'" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Have you it here?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It