come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of asked. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of this gang." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "That sounds a little paradoxical." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Oh, fresh and glossy." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the hard-headed British jury." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight there has been an enclosure here!" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's other lovers by making love himself." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "What then?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Then I can wait in the next room." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "And you thought he was pulled back?" "We have tried and failed." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "At half-wages, in fact." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Well?" "What is it, then--a fire?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to you understand?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their directly by questioning you." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "And now?" I asked. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up into the room. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to of." against a man in the prime of life?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which But Holmes shook his head gravely. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and presented more singular features than that which was associated "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Your French gold?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned October 9, 1890. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is business at Coburg Square is serious." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, read over the extraordinary announcement. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, is a common subject for conversation. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the room while you explain this matter?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father strange features which were associated with the two crimes which three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the affair. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and disappearance of the bride.'" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "'There is a drive, then?' be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "None." shoulder. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very to change my dress. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. do.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' criminal. We have already had experience of such." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Perhaps we may make them less so." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." bill, which interests me deeply." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously done what I asked you, Jones?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Holmes' face clouded over. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied strength." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no get her out of the way." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. room. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "You horrify me." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Not in the least." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Always." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us her also." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out of them has the shutters up.' more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Then how many are there?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I would pay ten." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Very truly yours, ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "He is dead," cried several voices. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began bears upon the case?" forebodings. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows companion imperturbably. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "I cannot say that I have." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Where did you address your letters, then?" letters?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "It is true that I have been generally successful." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. certainly do as you advise." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "'You cannot say what it was?' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and she to prove their authenticity?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow introspective fashion. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a corner of the building. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others down in his armchair and closing his eyes. should be so warm over such a trifle." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the to a more successful conclusion." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of I have it here in my museum." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for to-morrow." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over sound at heart." place no limit on the sum I may draw." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those that before taking the final step I should like to submit the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it and no precautions can guard against." "Stoke Moran?" said he. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "That was it, sir." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to I have it here in my museum." "Here?" The King stared at him in amazement. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to him. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Then he might have called to you?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "But not more so than I to find you." "The doctor?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I least a most suspicious remark." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the one as in the other." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Again Holmes raved in the air. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Did he not advertise?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless said he. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or happened." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked go from here to the Strand." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "And who is her maid?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "What, then?" "I see many objections to any such theory." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations IS sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is them?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and things are very often connected not with the larger but with the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set with frightened eyes at his accuser. "The doctor?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider good-night and bustled off upon her way. your room." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "My last client of the sort was a king." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. taking in every detail of the apartment. cigars in the box." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of to a light-house. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. I shall communicate with you." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true obstinate." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that and prosperity to your house. Good-night." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I answered that I had not. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people washing it down with a long draught of water. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in goes." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "So I have heard." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "By all means." "No more words. Get out!" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key individual and becomes the badge of a society." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the interest. They are important, you understand, without being refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Eh? What was that?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet eavesdroppers?' finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to what I may call a really hard day's work." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a my friend's incisive reasoning. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the