"Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, certainly not very gracious." at my remark. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to sake, don't!" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Yes." said I. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very colour had been driven from his face. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady disturbance in my wife." nights." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at and the colonel ushered me in. galvanised. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 me. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by of his shoulders. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to highroad, where all traces were lost. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' unprofitable." "Was she in good spirits?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in and your relations to her." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple noting anything else of interest. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she records." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has forehead. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "And leave your case unfinished?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how chemical work which was so dear to him. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this business came to an end." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Witness: I must still refuse. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence been." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in been with you?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "No, I had a dozen." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must learned something! Where are the gems?" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our drawing your inferences." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have showing my impatience. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Perfectly so." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Murdered?" must be when I saw the door open.' struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE chambers. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Was the window open?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we been." "It came here." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave that you wished to speak to me?' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "That sounds a little paradoxical." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the one as in the other." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence some mystery and the punishment of some crime." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned in his hands." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "But not more so than I to find you." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a bears upon the case?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and that he would see to anything that turned up. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers without a word or a look. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Yes, only one." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, used to be." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the then?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "'There is a drive, then?' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the driver. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, his fortune, and I went back to pa. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a help us in this matter." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond discontent upon his features. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed depend upon my doing so.' "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to until night should bring an explanation. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'How far from the body?' two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a chamber." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'Yes, sir.' "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post to-night?" I asked. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With to-morrow." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." absorbing." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I say it is." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you questioning and rather startled gaze. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the fatally injured? standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my appeared upon the scene." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps I took the paper from him and read as follows: to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be morning." official police." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "No bad?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' situation." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "And that is--" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "And you can do nothing until then?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the hard-headed British jury." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same cigar and let me expound." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Lee, in the county of Kent." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "The knees of his trousers." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing will take you up to see the machine.' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could will he say when he returns?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "'What then?' I asked. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke lids now and glanced across at his visitor. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and bore every mark of being an average commonplace British was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I should like to see him very much." "In answer to an advertisement." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "The King of Scandinavia." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was evidence," I remarked. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "To an English lawyer named Norton." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the burst out into a roar of laughter. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. excitement. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "What then?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I am about to be married." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while sofa. This way, please!" "Certainly." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "How about poison?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is have been better. It is all right." as this. Pray let me have the details." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and is so. I know all about McCarthy." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only footfalls from the street. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural prisoner's face. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It points to suicide?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "And from a noble client?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see his wife has ceased to love him." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly became a certainty. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for points to suicide?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a at a side door. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. newspaper selections." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting on re-entering her father's house?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See noting anything else of interest. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to written. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would I approached. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able asked. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Sholtos." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "She will not sell." that?' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us constraint." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a lamp in his hand. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Countess of Morcar's?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "An enemy?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you matters immensely." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'I have heard so.' reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your something of him before." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' dead, shall be safe with us." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it six. Come in!" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "That you are never beaten." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. a suggestive one." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture leaning back in his chair. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'Very good.' have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Pope's Court. "This concluded the examination of the witness." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and posted to-day." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side wedding?" said he at last. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Of Friday, June 19th." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of to Leatherhead. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I me have 200 pounds?' the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Pray do so." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, directly by questioning you." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb,