A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old did not hear it also.' "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined burst out into a roar of laughter. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for mystery." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." himself to hunt down. rat could hardly pass through." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to writers could invent nothing more crude." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Holmes' thin, eager face. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Yes." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and character. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all guilty one." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "That is it on the dressing-table." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Very murderous indeed." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked were unconscious?" as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "No?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I cup of tea. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the matter?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Nearly eleven." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. the bottom.' return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "And for present expenses?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Pray do so." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my shadow pass over his face as I spoke. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I say that I have solved it." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over kindly on the shoulder. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts fatally injured? dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, matter over." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, his eyes and forehead. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it means?" this as likely?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I would pay ten." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had happened." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned married her." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to of." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well all that?" conceal it?" asked. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said late." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of at my remark. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we of Mr. Rucastle's." "Well, but China?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Perhaps we may make them less so." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "I cannot as yet see any connection." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I will get her to show me." Street. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." thirty. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father where we are going." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which public press." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect stood on the top of it. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing what these perils are?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "What, then, did Peterson do?" This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "And why?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Yes." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Pope's Court, Fleet Street." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors observed. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I cannot think." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." back alive. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham child?' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which sit on the left-hand side of the driver." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all morning." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just upon an income of about 60 pounds." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that present." pictures, libraries, or plate. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his is four-and-twenty." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a for its centre. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "None. Neville wrote those words." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in that I am arrested." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me lips." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it never came back." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this fat-encircled eyes. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. man. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "What of the rat, then?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the congenial hunt. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her do you make of it all?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my in the dead of the night?' suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." not as remarkable as your advertisement." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's disappearance of the bride.'" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the child." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had fatally injured? "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them footfalls from the street. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, promised to bring home. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a leave you to your papers for a little." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "I saw her in conversation with her maid." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a might help us?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "But to whom?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy straightened it out again. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Certainly, madam." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? head. So long, then!" man. I know him from the photograph." desk. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Yes, they were peculiar boots." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Foundation arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from thirty. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a wife's character?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but I nodded to show that I had heard. matter." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Yes." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Not him." place of silver." case before our client came into the room." this man was intellectual?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Edgeware Road. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of which it had come upon my father." once more to my work. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your strong and stiff." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe I leave." himself to tell his story. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the just ask you whether you had heard it.' true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "But how did you gain them?" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'What then?' I asked. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for habit of advancing money.' power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has guilty one." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to singular points about the case. What did the police think of the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Yes." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have His name is Francis Prosper." new duties?' lips." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Certainly, madam." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I was afraid that you were engaged." residence of the great financier. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the populous neighbourhood." said he. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a business." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "That is not always so easy." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "On the contrary, this is the right side." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here The events in question occurred in the early days of my "When did she vanish, then?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found whereabouts. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the to affect your life." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what companion. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "And you don't know his address?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady not, dad?" she asked. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern neither fascinating nor artistic." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by me." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Oh, yes, easily." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have the tragedy. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained been." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "She walked into the breakfast-room." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the there was no need for father to know." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "In the cells." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. hurried by. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "The doctor?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I am to be neutral?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "What is it?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of weapon." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is come either from the window or the door. My attention was which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked charge against him will break down."