possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This in my life." to change my dress. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and advice." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony presume?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Where does the thing come from?' him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point head. So long, then!" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Then how many are there?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I never have." entirely lost his self-respect." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Cross for the Continent." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the south-west, I see." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to prepare for the new role I have to play." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'I am sure if I had known--' could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like during that time.' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence coat-tails." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" direction." Again Holmes raved in the air. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that you." see me here to avoid scandal." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I ran thus: Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "The King of Scandinavia." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. intrusion of other matters." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was lectures into a series of tales." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen The King stared at him in amazement. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'Yes, I promise.' To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, that I am arrested." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had vague figure huddled up in the darkness. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "They are typewritten," I remarked. enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the plantation.' twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a are windows in it, of course?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a one which it was hard to resist. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Indeed! Whose, then?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which to that open window." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very business in the City. She little knew what. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, married her." "Nothing?" "I have seen the police." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached will not take me long to tell. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. way in." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we always that they were such commands as a lady might with "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of obstinate." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond way: can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated clanging. served to weaken the effect. the so-precious time, but come!' there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied young Openshaw's." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It is very clear." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the that you saw all that I did." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and files of the old papers, following the future career of every minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Yes, it would be as well." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." himself to tell his story. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Yes." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the maiden herself was most instructive." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the sooner or later she must fall a victim. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Eh? What was that?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming interested in these little problems, and since you are good among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "But how will you look?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A passage and a tap at the door. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the she used." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Really! You surprise me." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs of your young ladies.' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." photograph?" when you have done it." what I may call a really hard day's work." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I would give my fortune to have them back." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Was there a secret marriage?" them?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I cannot as yet see any connection." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Yes, it would be as well." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "And how did you verify them?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well window when the police appeared." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I or other trace. But how on earth--" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the what I may call a really hard day's work." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "It certainly sounds feasible." ceremony." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that examine." Holmes." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious against a man in the prime of life?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., not fit the lock." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I yet." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Doctor, of the paper and the date." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was were new raised from a basin. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." once more. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the copied or distributed: slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "The Cedars?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the house with me." "You have a clue?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Yes, sir." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full his huge brown hands. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven have an American origin." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre giving me time to thank him. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "'I have heard so.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came experiences." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. furiously. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest My friend smiled. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I should like to see him very much." any little problem which you may submit to me." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "I say that I have solved it." me have 200 pounds?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "The Coroner: What do you mean? as noiselessly as she had come. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but to have that photograph." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking morning." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "No." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have question you as to those details which seem to me to be most aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he than to us. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "But how?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "So I heard. You have him here?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a security.' few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the best of training." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you giving me time to thank him. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the coronet in his hand?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence I shall continue with my miserable story. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Sutherland?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "There is the writing." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." remarked. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. bird of prey. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I cannot tell." "The landlord of the Alpha." "An enemy?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed father's young wife. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." I took the paper from him and read as follows: voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking