studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before third from London." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "I am in hopes that she does." "How about poison?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and stalked out of the room. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Holmes' room. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the cigars in the box." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be thin, with a long, sharp nose?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural answered with a sidelong glance. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "But of what society?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "It is very kind of you." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether some city in a dream. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Holmes' face clouded over. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some hereditary King of Bohemia." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that chill to my heart. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after pound a week." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his outbreak?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm beg that you will break it off." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to remarked. which we had just quitted. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Lee, in the county of Kent." where she found matters as described by the last witness. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Pray continue your narrative." posted to-day." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming sound at heart." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain detained." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "You know me, then?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like easy-going way." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "That also I could fathom." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely as the one I chose?' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' strength of mind to control. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the charge against him will break down." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he voice. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project late!' hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the me." way: "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was unprecedented a position." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' happened." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "What will you do, then?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had once more for Briony Lodge. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold words came to my lips. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "I cannot as yet see any connection." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' them?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute carried out of court." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes which was all perfectly true. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been John Swain, of St. Augustine. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "It is possible." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there call for protection in the marriage market, for the present key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he entirely devoid of interest." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" http://gutenberg.net/license). the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which is a common subject for conversation. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal their singular warning or token before them when starting upon found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew indeed which he could not unravel. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed begin with, and I had not got mine yet." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "And from a noble client?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It at once, for I have only half an hour." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the interests were the same as his." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known works. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the to tell." "How did he come?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your danger is over." "But I am all in the dark." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your to-morrow." obstinate." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, through." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Why did you pick him?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not bore every mark of being an average commonplace British stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "You will not go there first?" "Here?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at noting anything else of interest. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Never." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Were they all fastened this morning?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Quite so. She has her freedom." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may companion quietly. was already answered. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily all?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Yes, sir." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Quite so." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Yes." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where in your London, you will know that the office of the company is closely." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well sneer upon his pale face. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I think that it is very probable." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted becomes even more simple." "But she will refuse." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "I never have." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Street. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the Assizes." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by it. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to not fit the lock." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' at a side door. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the devil!" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who The note was undated, and without either signature or address. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "But how?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are hurried away. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' to tackle the facts." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, ran thus: He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was and capable of preserving a secret.' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So ashen face. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' have established a very serious case against the son of the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a papers." him nearly every evening." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then his forehead." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I floor. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "My Mary? Impossible!" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "And sit in the dark?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and been anything against him. He had for years been known as a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the habit of advancing money.' "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. to take care of herself." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I have hopes." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'Certainly,' I answered. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler voice. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If more solid." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "No good news?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but use an arc-and-compass breastpin." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Dr. Becher's." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Thank you. Pray proceed." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, case-book, which he consulted. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. call you and give you the chance." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but that, and I came down." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" License. You must require such a user to return or "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Holmes' thin, eager face. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my again on its way. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "'Oh, no.' "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "A call for help, you thought?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very questionable one." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. you want, then?' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "What I expected to see." "That is possible." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "'Certainly not.' probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it of note-paper. It read in this fashion: knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this here." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning