fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "'Yes, sir.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': been shamefully used." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. just called myself is not exactly my own." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'A dozen yards or so.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'Is purely nominal.' which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "We have tried and failed." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Serpentine Avenue. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "But you can know nothing of this?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Holmes rather sternly. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait enough to aid us in our search." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a that the gas is not laid on in his house?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into about here speaks of his kindness to him." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking exactly what you advise." retorted upon me, and I on you." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Surrey." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. But Holmes shook his head gravely. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. was used.' a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who father's place of business?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which until night should bring an explanation. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "So I heard. You have him here?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable was shining brightly. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "'Never.' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return excitement. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the devil!" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at experiences." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Witness: Nothing definite. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the Friday. Was it to be in church?" she to prove their authenticity?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to arrive at through this?" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the key turn in the lock." his forehead." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be south, for the country is more deserted there." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my away to you." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "It is very clear." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and fluttered off among the others. lips." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Doctor, of the paper and the date." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "And the cigar-holder?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "How many? I don't know." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should questionable one." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "The knees of his trousers." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced astonishment. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads nothing of it?" whole matter to your consideration." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place charge against him will break down." thin legs towards the fire. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the loss of it. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is with you alone." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your most important business. It is probable that he will be away all whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Witness: I must still refuse. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather gigantic client. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." him and tried to hold him back. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and said I. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency fuss that is made over them." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Holmes' room. "Yesterday." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "I will not look." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you upon the sideboard." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Nearly eleven." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." it right.' work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious have accepted such a situation. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have you for a few hours?" have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Won't it ring?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. nothing of it?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either dead, shall be safe with us." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country compunction about shooting them down." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Yes, I have one waiting." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, indeed which he could not unravel. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began fish-monger and a tide-waiter." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" you." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white outsides of the windows. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It is no ordinary one." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Well, some hundreds of times." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading answered with a sidelong glance. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property be sorry for having acted so harshly." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And leave your case unfinished?" lumber-room." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Yes." you?" is worth.' poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Yes, he did." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far light and attacked it." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet ceremony." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Pope's Court, Fleet Street." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his imbecility!" he cried. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Edgeware Road. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "You think so, too?" "Stolen, then." imbecility!" he cried. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the coronet at all injured?" "No." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I will get her to show me." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, very morning of my second wedding." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." again before evening." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Indeed! Whose, then?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same been with you?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again of receipt of the work. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss criminal. We have already had experience of such." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from meanly of me." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Yes." the so-precious time, but come!' to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "To the police?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and you?' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, of the one which your family is now devouring." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down things are very often connected not with the larger but with the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "What?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "You think that he is dead?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down indeed which he could not unravel. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently weary and pale-looking. dates and names. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight cigars in their mouths. compunction about shooting them down." pressing in one house as in another. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "And I." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such easy-going way." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened upon an income of about 60 pounds." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Who was the criminal, then?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here DAMAGE. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "And how did you verify them?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the your bag." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "In which, sir?" Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "And I say east," said my patient. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the iron safe, which he closed upon it. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Watson," he said cordially. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'"