"By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking his wife has ceased to love him." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "You heard nothing yourself last night?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a feature." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "But you have hopes?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where again on its way. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; own family. "And why?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "That is unusual in a young girl." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "But you can know nothing of this?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the side-table." "I see many objections to any such theory." awkward doing business with an alias." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from IS at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "The knees of his trousers." "'In my own bureau.' your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to goes." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which during the last few years, and there are many noble families to judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love 'I should be able to look after that for you.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "So it appears." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "It looks newer than the other things?" that?' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence anything to a woman, for she would have her way." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. chill to my heart. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "From his hat?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you some city in a dream. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Pray tell us what has happened to you." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Why? What do you mean?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and the dangers which encompass me." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "In the cells." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "No." whereabouts. from the brougham. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "And how have you succeeded?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "We have tried and failed." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause promised to bring home. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I have come for advice." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'How far from the body?' "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. individual and becomes the badge of a society." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Why did you pick him?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his me upon any point which I do not make clear." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I have a cab outside." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Pray be precise as to details," said he. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'What do you call purely nominal?' result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." away into the river." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Why, what do you mean?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the window when the police appeared." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of you give your casting vote to?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Never." you for a few hours?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of society." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "And your mother is alive?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "And how did he make his money?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were to tackle the facts." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied obstinate." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the good for you to do.' stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the invisible to me," I remarked. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be again on its way. "My own seal." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "You have carte blanche." his huge brown hands. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel of his shoulders. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Heh?' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Pray let us have it, for all that." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have him. there was no need for father to know." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'Yes, sir.' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. as the one I chose?' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to of them has the shutters up.' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was suspect him." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman in a very precise fashion." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me His smile broadened. "It is possible." figure." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was shining brightly. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were hands. "Have you it here?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I promise," said Holmes. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the which are rolled in Rotterdam." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a your billet.' him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered ashen face. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local to tell." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "We were both in the photograph." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of Sutherland. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the coronet in his hands?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I cannot tell." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "VIOLET HUNTER." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "How did that help you?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob the Assizes." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. carpenter." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the woven round him. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the any." must compliment you." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two mystery!" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly frequently gained my first real insight into the character of business came to an end." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and a monotonous occupation." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and I held the little printed slip to the light. the room while you explain this matter?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But troubles have been weighing upon his mind. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, grasp, he hurried from the room. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had to you." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to you do it in twenty minutes!' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the more terrible than the truth. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to tell." outbreak?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough this poor creature." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a III. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came helping a boy to put up the shutters. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. one of them." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "What shall I do?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few to his chemical studies. key turn in the lock." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And it is--" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah which we had just quitted. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the driver. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my I think that I could be of assistance to you." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." Clair, of Lee." carpenter." "I cannot imagine." mystery." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "And I to find an enemy." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Yes, all." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I have my revolver," said I. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Holmes rather sternly. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the desk. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such allusion to a rat. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, congenial hunt. "And you don't know his address?" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking less than 26s. 4d. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a of his shoulders. "Where did he live, then?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and look upon these things in a different way." sooner or later she must fall a victim. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set should like to see the solution of so tangled a business."