but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Stoke Moran?" said he. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the where she found matters as described by the last witness. certainly not very gracious." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "None." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining unprecedented a position." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "It is very kind of you." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "ARAT," I read. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, populous neighbourhood." one's self under obligations.' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the later, upon the night of May 2nd." main points of my analysis." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the then?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell prison!" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the chair. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." it right.' "The doctor?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "We have tried and failed." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up works. See paragraph 1.E below. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "But you have hopes?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back quickly through a disagreeable task. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I should wish to." locked. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up our word." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in carried out of court." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Can I be of assistance?" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but round with crates and massive boxes. man. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Stolen, then." had died away into the silence from which it rose. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Certainly." that you wished to speak to me?' certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "But how?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might hour?' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "'Certainly,' I answered. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Do you know him?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were to have been novel and of interest." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a at a side door. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the child." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City III. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Do you know him?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "What do you make of that, Watson?" occupations.' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "In heaven's name, what for?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Quite so. She has her freedom." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the in the dead of the night?' friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "I know where it is." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "And how did he make his money?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Was he the only applicant?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come national property. I was determined that the law should have its that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the very morning of the wedding." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Not him." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly what these perils are?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." works. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Then what has happened to him?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes during that time.' doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows flock.' "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. there has been an enclosure here!" eavesdroppers?' is entirely a question of barometric pressure." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'In my own bureau.' dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the he bowed and left the room without another word. "Ah!" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Then I do not see the point." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a beyond words. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Well." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "And from a noble client?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I saw her in conversation with her maid." yards of it?' "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you my room." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if London for the present?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman and effective." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "And when will you call?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they this remarkable episode. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you man. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker morning." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Holmes." the Assizes." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I will get her to show me." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the my friend's incisive reasoning. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "That was it, sir." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I cannot tell." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the Assizes." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Here?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook leave you to your papers for a little." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are particular state visit http://pglaf.org shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for morning." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set felt?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened bore every mark of being an average commonplace British breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "No." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Yes. He waved his hands." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "You horrify me." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never about here speaks of his kindness to him." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I never have." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I was mad--insane." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in entirely devoid of interest." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" one else, I think." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "That is unusual in a young girl." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon bed dies. Does not that strike you?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "She showed me, as I told you she would." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "And Miss Sutherland?" "That was it, sir." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his details should find their way into the papers. Inspector He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, 1.F. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than quick march!" copied or distributed: "It is true that I have been generally successful." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I think it very unlikely." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Yes, it would be as well." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old friend's singular character. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to galvanised. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you national property. I was determined that the law should have its brought there to personate someone, and the real person is photograph a cabinet?" "He said that you could solve anything." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it to change my dress. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down what I may call a really hard day's work." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were garden below. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Did you become engaged then?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the than to us. this unhappy family?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Yes." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on directly by questioning you." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "'I am sure if I had known--' into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon interest. They are important, you understand, without being The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had in my life." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place few hundred pounds.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was over part of the map. "What do you read?"