King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her like gravel from a pit.' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he upon a handsome competence. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the running down." "Yes." advice." could go. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "I say it is." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found sneer upon his pale face. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in cigar and let me expound." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and glanced through. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Of Friday, June 19th." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his sufficient punishment." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "But how?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense here and I will read it to you: Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. miles off. be there in time for your coming." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Thank you. Pray proceed." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "It is a murder, then?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the not come at once?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which ran thus: one or two very singular points about this room. For example, a room. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of helping a boy to put up the shutters. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Never." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "What will you say?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it fatally injured? England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has foot. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He questioning and rather startled gaze. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "A greater distance to travel." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "The murder was done with it." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." one of them." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the Friday. Was it to be in church?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Eyford." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "There are none." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining fishes. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I have solved it." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "He is dead," cried several voices. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "What, then?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "He is still with you, I presume?" will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. chair. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Where is it, then?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a frequently gained my first real insight into the character of active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. This is what he says: "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all man. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself our word." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the that?' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was fear." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I this poor creature." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "What can you not understand?" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." of a light. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was me. You must get home instantly and act." business." late!' green of the new foliage. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled mystery!" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "I was mad--insane." "Absolutely?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought noise which awoke you from your sleep?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "I say it is." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I to have been novel and of interest." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Upon what point?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "I cannot as yet see any connection." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "In which, sir?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Why, what do you mean?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. bled considerably." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in his hands." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son if I call to-morrow?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I cannot as yet see any connection." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I woman." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in for the market.' people in all walks of life. "You were travelling in the States?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon as he folded up the epistle. "But we can't all be." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "And Irene Adler?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the lectures into a series of tales." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is not personally threatened." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right place no limit on the sum I may draw." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very speckled band?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for ordinary clothes on?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Dr. Gregory B. Newby me, and I could not think that his explanation of the himself to tell his story. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door in the dead of the night?' "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other or other trace. But how on earth--" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, to-night's adventure." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had noble correspondent could be. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Absolutely?" "Yes." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of appeared upon the scene." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "What! You do not mean bodies?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of get the tickets." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, been with you?" jewels which you have stolen?' unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "I have solved it." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I will not look." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that than was visible to me." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I where we are going." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to woman." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "He disappeared so suddenly." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "'Yes, it was gone.' "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of hands. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of had formerly been in part my own. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable residence of the great financier. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Never." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which him!" get the tickets." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. again, where I was soon asleep. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the gone before you can get him to hospital." garden below. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Never to return." points to suicide?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the in this note: off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Have you it here?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "You know me, then?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock at once, for I have only half an hour." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be married her." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I such person." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Upon what point?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "And how did you verify them?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an quite distinctive." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "My Mary? Impossible!" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "What steps will you take?" I asked. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the see a sister of mine apply for." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late!