time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, all?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. morning." quick march!" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "At half-wages, in fact." "Yes, it would be as well." "Then I do not see the point." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not lids now and glanced across at his visitor. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten again, where I was soon asleep. as yours." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, This is what he says: good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "I think it very unlikely." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again very morning of my second wedding." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is to you." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "And the cigar-holder?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the address that was given us in the advertisement. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, despaired of." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It was an hour's good drive." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the him, that man would not have given me such complete information impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "So I heard. You have him here?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. http://gutenberg.net/license). wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" third from London." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Henry Baker is a member." "My dear Holmes!" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Sutherland. get her out of the way." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Quite so. She has her freedom." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Precisely." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "And from a noble client?" "Yes." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a to miss it." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Not social, then?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work of a light. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four showing my impatience. to a more successful conclusion." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very bearing upon the case." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Will you bet, then?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Certainly." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of at a side door. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the night.' office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Did you become engaged then?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen me where it went to?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of when your master had gone out." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it business in the City. She little knew what. "It was an hour's good drive." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Arthur Conan Doyle near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be where Mr. Fordham shows you.' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught happened." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from hardly wander." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my humiliation." was feeling which was the fattest.' Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Stolen, then." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Ten to two.' prove to be little relation between the different incidents of placed his cuttings. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in happened." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. had formerly been in part my own. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "It is no ordinary one." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "A greater distance to travel." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and have this put in the evening papers." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the lumber-room." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "It is no ordinary one." "That is possible." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman became a certainty. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "What can you not understand?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point views." and the church but not where the lady lived." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of existence." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Did your wife hear all this?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "The rest you will leave in our hands." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at unprofitable." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "A confidential servant?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of jewels which you have stolen?' have one." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "But you can know nothing of this?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I meant." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Where did you address your letters, then?" "And how have you succeeded?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "And the cigar-holder?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and all that?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "But you can know nothing of this?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It came here." "No, thank goodness, she did not." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Won't it ring?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Yes, sir." happened." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "I never have." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind guilty parties." "Then how many are there?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with certainly not very gracious." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes I. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home round with crates and massive boxes. are, and they are waiting for us." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "How often?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Get out!" said he. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view that I am arrested." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can of the one which your family is now devouring." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. galvanised. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Holmes." face and glided from the room. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "And what did you see?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "What, then?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of asked. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of quite distinctive." Sutherland?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical writer." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than