docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Arthur Conan Doyle note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, memory. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "She walked into the breakfast-room." "He said too much." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." him to go away.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Murdered?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might guilty parties." discontent upon his features. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "You horrify me!" for its centre. "You have the photograph?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the devil!" of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave past. imbecility!" he cried. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so ourselves in the office." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you goes." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended perplexity from it to my illustrious client. there is a decided draught." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is peculiar to him. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was everything which you would wish to know." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a brought there to personate someone, and the real person is effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the devil!" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "No." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Holmes, the busybody!" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his legal crime." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen name is different." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "It is no ordinary one." crime." such attractions and accomplishments?' "Upon what point?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already that he has suffered." "No. What a strange idea!" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Deserted you?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Precisely." "But what harm can there be in that?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's window when the police appeared." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Whose house is it?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears to have been novel and of interest." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to danger is over." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It missed him, then?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. handed it to him. shoulder; "he's all right." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Pool. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a shoulder. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while again on its way. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down little adventures." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the developed." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a article?" "About a month then." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but asked. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent certainly do as you advise." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors just ask you whether you had heard it.' "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his said he. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis carpenter." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "How did you deduce the select?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed presented more singular features than that which was associated of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "What have you to say now?" about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his whole matter to your consideration." lost his Christmas dinner." "'About the same.' asked. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel What do you deduce from it?" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. my former friend and companion. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his touch that coronet?' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the States. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. I nodded to show that I had heard. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, row." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it newspaper selections." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side opened the door, and slipped through. "You have but to name it." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." this as likely?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage way in everything. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "In which, sir?" have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady read it out to me." should be taken.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; gone. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double never came back." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired is worth.' so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I warn you that they are very incomplete." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he strength." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be photograph a cabinet?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What house for five minutes.' he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss union?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Did you observe the colour?" empty. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "You did not overhear what they said?" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur taking in every detail of the apartment. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were she used." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the fat-encircled eyes. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "My photograph." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he that he will be back before evening." "To an English lawyer named Norton." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "The Cedars?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. national property. I was determined that the law should have its 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, chemical work which was so dear to him. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Dark enough and sinister enough." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Do you know him?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear have one." such attractions and accomplishments?' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main horse could go." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Your French gold?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some carriage. It was a chestnut." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there again." "But it has twice been burgled." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One unprecedented a position." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the miles off. hand, madam?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "And for present expenses?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we cigar and let me expound." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Precisely." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle coroner's jury." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there because she had spent so short a time in this country that she a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him public press." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And now?" I asked. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "But what is it you wish?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and maid will bring up your coffee." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and writers could invent nothing more crude." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after empty. tension within him. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "What! a murderous attack?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the coronet at all injured?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. next day. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." shoulder. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of bill, which interests me deeply." "10th. John Swain cleared. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, and all of them with the keenest interest. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to was already answered. Where does the thing come from?' which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. me. You must get home instantly and act." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "One of his hands." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with strong reason behind." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some narrative." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "It missed him, then?" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the bottom.' "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'Why that?' I asks. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Perhaps we may make them less so." them, and came down just as you departed. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my point our research must commence, and we will begin it by yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the washing it down with a long draught of water. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before shoulder. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "But we can't all be." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several nice household for a young lady." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "'You cannot say what it was?' taking in every detail of the apartment. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Ah, but I was recommended to you." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the