"Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the danger is over." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "A greater distance to travel." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who meant." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in rose-bushes. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable it were putty." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and and your relations to her." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss enter Dr. Roylott's room." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with problems help me to do so." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I am still in the dark." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Where did he live, then?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were have I gained?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say side. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your nonsense.' the ceiling. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "But she will refuse." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "None. Neville wrote those words." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Did your wife hear all this?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when served to weaken the effect. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these relief. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want bare slabs of marble. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he some mystery and the punishment of some crime." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "She told me to ask you." tied." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the enough to aid us in our search." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend furiously. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some my former friend and companion. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I see many objections to any such theory." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until row." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through three fields round his house, and there he would take his shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "'About the same.' "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It is possible." it." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the second window is the one that I jumped from." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked there!' really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of delighted to hear it," he said. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." green of the new foliage. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere own family. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be that?' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be me. You must get home instantly and act." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my lids now and glanced across at his visitor. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. taking in every detail of the apartment. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "What! You do not mean bodies?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "You know me, then?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That been deceived." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the inner apartment." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found relation between them, and what the object of his repeated music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into room had already been engaged for us. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very was shining brightly. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Holmes' thin, eager face. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "A confidential servant?" "Was there a secret marriage?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "And what did you learn from him?" Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "That is also quite modern," said the lady. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several was shining brightly. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning suddenly upon us." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I cannot think." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed not within a twentieth part of the market price." matter." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Perhaps we may make them less so." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my wall." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "But what is it you wish?" annoyance, but no jest. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, McCarthy." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and following enigmatical notices: "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Where did you address your letters, then?" has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the reach." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could past. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled already referred to. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily such attractions and accomplishments?' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could followed. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the King without delay." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is village inn over there?" "I am about to be married." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my arrangements." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "No." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Well, some hundreds of times." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round straightened it out again. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I awkward doing business with an alias." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Why, what do you mean?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to in one or two places in England?' I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and if I call to-morrow?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Not in a good cause." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, me what he had done with the three missing stones. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Your presence might be invaluable." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. waste of energy." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "And what did you see?" would then never go into court at all." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him should be taken.' my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an that I may have something better before very many minutes are is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the inner apartment." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by horse could go." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." see a sister of mine apply for." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the tragedy. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'I shall certainly be there.' adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an such attractions and accomplishments?' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Young McCarthy must be got off, however." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? of Fenchurch Street." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I a monotonous occupation." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you I nodded to show that I had heard. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "9th. McCauley cleared. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Not particularly." said I. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had had died away into the silence from which it rose. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great 1.F. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "The vanishing of the lady." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I have come for advice." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Nor running a chance of arrest?" few hundred pounds.' course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me was it brought him the coronet? telegram would bring me down to your help." of Fenchurch Street." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready very peculiar words of the dying woman?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "'Yes.' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Certainly." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting But Holmes shook his head gravely. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. not come at once?" there in twenty minutes." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." minor matters until to-morrow." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the window, rose as we entered. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'I have already given you my word.' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many easy-going way." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make strength." there is a decided draught." "I am in hopes that she does." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly vault. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the this unhappy family?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon his cane at the bell-pull. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a enter Dr. Roylott's room." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "That you are never beaten." late." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "My own seal." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I came to find a friend." from the brougham. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows burst into a hearty fit of laughter. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, head. So long, then!" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room walking." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'Ample.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her