"Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, friends, not even his own brother. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Ample.' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "No. What a strange idea!" Holmes. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in some city in a dream. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "That was it, sir." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his lids now and glanced across at his visitor. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "By all means." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. read it out to me." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning but preventing her from injuring another. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "That is unusual in a young girl." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant head. So long, then!" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is writers could invent nothing more crude." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "I cannot tell." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' perplexity from it to my illustrious client. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which nice household for a young lady." outside." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Do you know him?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the loss of it. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing morning." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed mysterious business." about. plantation.' said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, them present such singular features as the strange train of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of way in." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from like that before?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "At half-wages, in fact." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Certainly." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." matter over." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my delighted to hear it," he said. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "It is his hat." in the port of London." "But how did you gain them?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' his face. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door gone. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "That's no good." "And leave your case unfinished?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was that you saw all that I did." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, keep the flames under. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, unprofitable." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A spark where all is dark to me." I. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to to-night?" I asked. "They are typewritten," I remarked. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "10th. John Swain cleared. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "You have a clue?" detained." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Dirty?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I am to be neutral?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Do you go out much in society?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, vault. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a developed." "Certainly." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Then I do not see the point." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. appeal." should be taken.' at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Then, as to money?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to in this note: "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "She told me to ask you." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into one's self under obligations.' form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms My friend smiled. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies of a light. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "No." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' useful material for showing traces. The double line a little impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would standing smiling on the door-step. prison!" six. Come in!" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Yes, I have one waiting." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon grasp, he hurried from the room. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and the colonel ushered me in. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." his wife has ceased to love him." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "'As governess?' laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all of Fenchurch Street." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "I was sure that I might rely on you." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Farm upon the left." visitors." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. a good hundred miles off by now." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and questioning and rather startled gaze. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Oh, fresh and glossy." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Pool. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "'I shall certainly be there.' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Murdered?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too heavy and sharp instrument." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "But you would not advise me to refuse?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten of them has the shutters up.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a extraordinary contortions. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, and your relations to her." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the 1.E.9. possible that we could bring him back to her? appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I during that time.' "In what way?" asked Holmes. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for back alive. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal me. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own lumber-room." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "'What then?' I asked. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I was afraid that you were engaged." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "How are you getting on?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which a monotonous occupation." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong the tragedy. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'Never,' said I. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to persecution?" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I am armed." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'Yes, sir.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "You horrify me!" morning." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "None." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the official police." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching himself in a perplexing position. heavily into it. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her go--none." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, answered with a sidelong glance. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Ah, but I was recommended to you." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot hurried away. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "What then?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom there." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I think it very unlikely." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Yes." "I am sure." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that closing the door. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a derbies." "Really! You surprise me." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "I have seen the police." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "No?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "And you can do nothing until then?" dead, shall be safe with us." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a and all of them with the keenest interest. His name is Francis Prosper." are, I think, all that we need." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the I shall continue with my miserable story. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I will get her to show me." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a was a lad." fact, we may call it conclusive." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I have solved it." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the you, my dear young lady?' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Where did you address your letters, then?" room?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Do you go out much in society?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, better grown goose." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, himself to hunt down. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It door?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this face and glided from the room. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Then I can wait in the next room." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the said I. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies hard-headed British jury." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all For additional contact information: refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." might have a private word with us. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It must be when I saw the door open.' little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so upon an income of about 60 pounds." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." experiences." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess for the market.' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you