"Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after carpenter." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" indiscretion." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I and wait." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just whole matter to your consideration." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" it. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers country, and eventually married, without anyone having a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "No." burst out into a roar of laughter. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows opened the door, and slipped through. London for the present?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used way in everything. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of at my own good fortune. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "You heard nothing yourself last night?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my shaken than I had ever seen him. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that papers diligently of late, have you not?" "What then?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never come either from the window or the door. My attention was "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." sneer upon his pale face. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Holmes rather sternly. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "'Certainly not. But why?' black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "No." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "VIOLET HUNTER." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, gives a meaning to it." "No sign of it?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in copied or distributed: to-night?" I asked. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Who by?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it this man was intellectual?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open of the vacancies.' woman." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? not come at once?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may front of me. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds one of the states of the Union." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But his huge brown hands. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, whether it answered to the description of any of their Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the leaning back in his chair. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" who was a member of your goose club." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly me upon any point which I do not make clear." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have happened." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to have been novel and of interest." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Game for a morning drive?" do you make of it all?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important hopeless attempt at recovering them." not within a twentieth part of the market price." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "What of the rat, then?" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more held up the lantern and gazed about him. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "What will you do, then?" several quiet little villages up there." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged I nodded to show that I had heard. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked are, I think, all that we need." union?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I bled considerably." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black than to us. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' events than those which have happened in my own family." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock as he folded up the epistle. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "No." answer." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly confronted him. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I will try. What is it?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "No." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. best detective that ever lived. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do had this final quarrel? mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "None." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate a little more before I quite committed myself. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'What do you call purely nominal?' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of in my life." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" best detective that ever lived. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the inquest, and which are worth considering." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a miles off. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "It is his hat." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six back into the street. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor business came to an end." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and inquire as to the address." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Street. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. would then never go into court at all." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to a few minutes he said that it would be all right. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the matter?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Ample." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered swore that no one else had been in the front room during the here." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to-night." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." pictures, libraries, or plate. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Come in!" said Holmes. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with of Mr. Rucastle's." "Yes." "Ha! you find it so?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common was keenly on my guard against him. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "It is possible." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Have you it here?" "'Why that?' I asks. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" into the bag, and made for the door. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck as this. Pray let me have the details." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are galvanised. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "She walked into the breakfast-room." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by upon a handsome competence. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "But it has twice been burgled." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the upon an income of about 60 pounds." against a man in the prime of life?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it since then to throw any light upon what became of him." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, himself to tell his story. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and past. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Yes." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "My dear Holmes!" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the running down." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the thought that she would have been so carried away." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" had a long day." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "And did you observe any change in her then?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "None." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he gentleman's clothes. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it leaning back in his chair. without a word or a look. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our go back?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the purpose equally well?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ crowd. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora of a light. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the will not take me long to tell. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "No." "Perhaps I have." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Proceed, then." "Not social, then?" should be so warm over such a trifle." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Why? What do you mean?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my even so self-evident a thing as that." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by one of them." man. "Witness: It was. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream acted in my house last night?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." to talk it over. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "What have you to say now?" "Was the window open?" this unhappy family?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "And I to find an enemy." "'Yes, sir.' narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Stolen, then." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his himself in a perplexing position. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I think that it is very probable." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Murdered?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and province." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which presume?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "What shall I do?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical beyond words. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" me have 200 pounds?' yourselves in at night?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "'Ample.' direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The telegram which we eventually received came late one night on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried mystery." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and gives a meaning to it." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Pool. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set likely to be some crony of the landlady's." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as