this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down have established a very serious case against the son of the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Where does the thing come from?' "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that sneer upon his pale face. with the outside air!" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us away in different directions, and I went off to make my own to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will served to weaken the effect. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my know that the truth is known." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our done what I asked you, Jones?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. union?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, His smile broadened. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "But how?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. intrusion of other matters." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project call you and give you the chance." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man views." peculiar to him. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked and the whole place is in a blaze." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "You have compromised yourself seriously." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Nothing." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It is a murder, then?" his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had that the gas is not laid on in his house?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "How did he come?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight even so self-evident a thing as that." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "It was a confession," I ejaculated. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an obstinate." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name companion. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I am to be neutral?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on grasp, he hurried from the room. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser was a lad." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended whether it answered to the description of any of their "Yes, all." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at undoubtedly my uncle's." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set My friend smiled. key of the affair now." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical of receipt of the work. "Why serious?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Imitated." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have matters immensely." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been in the dead of the night?' "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "But to whom?" "Yes, that is the Crown." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "She walked into the breakfast-room." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Very much so." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, placed his cuttings. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Bought." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, lectures into a series of tales." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "You think that he is dead?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman and all of them with the keenest interest. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was tell them apart.' could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Well?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I go from here to the Strand." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "So I am. Very much so." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I opened the door, and slipped through. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Arthur Conan Doyle "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Then let me do so?' "I am about to be married." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no into her hand at the door and which lured her within their prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "He is still with you, I presume?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony British peeress.'" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret weigh very heavily upon my conscience." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his investigation." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" newspaper selections." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. depend upon your compliance." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Then, as to money?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their all-comprehensive glances. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of a room. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' coroner's jury." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One she slowly sank and died without having recovered her here and I will read it to you: round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Murdered?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "It is half-past ten now." sneer upon his pale face. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a DAMAGE. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in discontent upon his features. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want very morning of my second wedding." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "And for present expenses?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I was sure that I might rely on you." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "And the cigar-holder?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the enough to aid us in our search." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the station." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her telegram would bring me down to your help." situation." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those open." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the death." hopeless attempt at recovering them." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little him and tried to hold him back. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I will get her to show me." them, and came down just as you departed. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a said he. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not himself to hunt down. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I served to weaken the effect. you, my dear young lady?' "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but should be taken.' her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "You saw the ventilator, too?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Not in a good cause." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Was there a secret marriage?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "It goes to the housekeeper's room." shall use the carriage to-night." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'Never.' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew to where he stood hid behind the curtain. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "My private note-paper." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Were they all fastened this morning?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, seen the man in the road." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "No." "Not in a good cause." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or just ask you whether you had heard it.' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and telegram would bring me down to your help." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill business." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless where Mr. Fordham shows you.' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred tell me that you intended to go into harness." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each bill, which interests me deeply." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "It goes to the housekeeper's room." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "She walked into the breakfast-room." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. sufficient punishment." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" Heh?' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Yes, I have one waiting." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the disappearance of the bride.'" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his was it brought him the coronet? in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'Where could I find him?' from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to row." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here into the bag, and made for the door. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have it." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' up this clue while it is still hot." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had promised to bring home. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the room while you explain this matter?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to there has been an enclosure here!" criminal. We have already had experience of such." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'I am sure if I had known--' while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Never." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Well." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six fish-monger and a tide-waiter." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush about here speaks of his kindness to him." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as not within a twentieth part of the market price." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project of receipt of the work. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I would pay ten." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm