bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I occurred." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which begin with, and I had not got mine yet." that performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to McCarthy." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" orange pips. when you have done it." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I was afraid that you were engaged." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's of the one which your family is now devouring." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as power." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but hurried by. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent and effective." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Then you may entirely rely on me." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "The landlord of the Alpha." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "You'll never persuade me to believe that." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a to-night's adventure." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. a little more before I quite committed myself. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself spare." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. a very grave face. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. extraordinary contortions. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked compunction about shooting them down." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "It came here." both be extremely obliged.' could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Absolutely?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had this Miss Turner." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two key of the affair now." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, cup of tea. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your of the one which your family is now devouring." sneer upon his pale face. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel away to you." it." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign congenial hunt. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "No." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me before the coroner and the police-court." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which with frightened eyes at his accuser. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom all that?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was there." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words clang of the bell. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Eyford at 11:15.' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a that?' blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in quick march!" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "No, distinctly professional." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, to change my dress. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until indeed which he could not unravel. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now bird of prey. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his rat could hardly pass through." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and even of instruction." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed your troubles." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Holmes' thin, eager face. "Of Friday, June 19th." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "But your client--" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "And what did you see?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "What of the rat, then?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "And how have you succeeded?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the matter." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an himself to tell his story. better in every way that they should make their position a little to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Do you know him?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and his knees, staring into the fire. presented more singular features than that which was associated "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Get out!" said he. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and was it brought him the coronet? said he. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "The murder was done with it." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "And how in the world did you find them?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers emerged. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I cannot think." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Do you go out much in society?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. danger is over." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were gbnewby@pglaf.org "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I will, Miss Turner." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Holmes." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Literary Archive Foundation open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Murdered?" "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come later, upon the night of May 2nd." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the mystery." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Eyford." awaited us upon the table. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "If I can be of use." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Was there a secret marriage?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she even of instruction." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Then I shall certainly come." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were quite distinctive." Count Von Kramm." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry south, for the country is more deserted there." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "It was." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town fear." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated closing the door. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." legal crime." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that acted in my house last night?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and mysterious business." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do himself to hunt down. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Thank you. Pray proceed." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been again." his forehead." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I am all attention, madam." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. towards the blaze. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "It may not come to that," said Holmes. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "How did you trace it, then?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no danger is over." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Dr. Becher's." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "It is a murder, then?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "And for present expenses?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose disturbance in my wife." indiscretion." maiden herself was most instructive." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you in your example." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "The murder was done with it." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in McCarthy's innocence. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very narrative." "Not him." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "An accident, I presume?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. national property. I was determined that the law should have its he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a results." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "It came here." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains kindly on the shoulder. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the chance at all." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." this as likely?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in as this. Pray let me have the details." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be lumber-room." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a peculiar to him. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler murdered man." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a threw himself down with his face to the pillow. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the coronet in his hand?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit You want to know what became of those geese?" highly," said Holmes. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "In what way?" asked Holmes. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must was shining brightly. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I fear not." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my newspaper selections." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Edgeware Road. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'Is purely nominal.' he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the I nodded again. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Who was the criminal, then?" "Yes." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "You have but to name it." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that late." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "By no means." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I see many objections to any such theory." ways of our fellow-men." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given present." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and even of instruction." morning." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" system of imprisonment?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?"