repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one look upon these things in a different way." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "But she could not love him." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a again on its way. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the coronet in his hands?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't that threaten you." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" cost them two and thirty pounds." present." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia his huge brown hands. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by house for five minutes.' shoulder; "he's all right." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and noting anything else of interest. discontent upon his features. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never astonishment. himself. disappearance of these gems?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the jewels which you have stolen?' the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Not social, then?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' that I am arrested." Munro.' such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a door?" works. See paragraph 1.E below. to arrive at through this?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call if only as a check to my own memory." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love ready to-morrow?' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "What office?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "And the murderer?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any relation between them, and what the object of his repeated sparkled upon his finger. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such discontent upon his features. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and advice." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one crowd. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to overpowering excitement and concern. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'A dozen yards or so.' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "That is not always so easy." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "And how in the world did you find them?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "But you can know nothing of this?" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That purpose of examination. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." you do it in twenty minutes!' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head at my own good fortune. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "My stepfather's business papers." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no he bowed and left the room without another word. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "You have carte blanche." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of ways including including checks, online payments and credit card in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away ready to-morrow?' "And Miss Sutherland?" "An accident, I presume?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Holmes' thin, eager face. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "You don't mind breaking the law?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being shaken than I had ever seen him. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly detained." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no see a sister of mine apply for." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to the one as in the other." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Proceed, then." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a a monotonous occupation." to you." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she emerged. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" have an American origin." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "But how will you look?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Quite so." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their villagers almost as much as their master. might have a private word with us. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a happened." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of investigation." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding of fine shops and stately business premises that they really to Leatherhead. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to voice. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the warnings." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless despaired of." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City may have an influence upon European history." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United believe that I should never have any practice at all. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "None. Neville wrote those words." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as that I can to serve you." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the driver. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the been shamefully used." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the wedding?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave During two years I have had three consultations and one small scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall for its centre. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "And Miss Sutherland?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain lamp in his hand. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Doctor, of the paper and the date." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, friends, not even his own brother. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Yes, sir." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are meanly of me." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the coronet at all injured?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down details." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "'There is a drive, then?' when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There is worth.' always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in miles off. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Your presence might be invaluable." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and the colonel ushered me in. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the families. Now for the facts. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "He might." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight foresight and the moral retrogression?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and at my own good fortune. bachelor.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Entirely." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. meanly of me." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "No." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'I have heard so.' "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a newspaper selections." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'I have already given you my word.' "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it acted in my house last night?" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Was the window open?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, money should be paid at once.' took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I populous neighbourhood." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Yes, the wine-cellar." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so people in all walks of life. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and them?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Yes." soul! here is her carriage at the door." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the what these perils are?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have