his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once particular state visit http://pglaf.org sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout DISSOLVED. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "What will you say?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Where does the thing come from?' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The laugh and put his lips to my ear. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Precisely." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Who by?" "It is possible." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "It is to him that this trophy belongs." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Absolutely?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as of." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a hurried away. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no green of the new foliage. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect in one or two places in England?' nonsense.' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" companion. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire newspaper selections." of Mr. Rucastle's." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Countess of Morcar's?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. good for you to do.' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, you, my dear young lady?' "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "At what time?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Whose house is it?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." noting anything else of interest. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "I have hopes." "I cannot imagine." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as This is what he says: robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "But how?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast of the one which your family is now devouring." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." was feeling which was the fattest.' as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so hands. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such next day. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Yes." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "No." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he beg that you will break it off." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his DISSOLVED. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Bought." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at that I am arrested." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper heavy and sharp instrument." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "'What are you doing there?' he asked. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "And you don't know his address?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "But what is it you wish?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in chamber." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "'I am sure that I do not know.' unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, lost nothing by them." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, seven miles from Eyford Station.' undoubtedly my uncle's." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any suggested at once that there must be a communication between the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about possible that we could bring him back to her? said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I begin with, and I had not got mine yet." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I cannot imagine." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen suggested at once that there must be a communication between the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked maid will bring up your coffee." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." do you make of it all?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are was keenly on my guard against him. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his acquaintance?" I approached. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "And how have you succeeded?" your most interesting statement." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the few hundred pounds.' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle voice, changing her seat as requested. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "And how did you verify them?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of door?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. in. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no telegram would bring me down to your help." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from once more for Briony Lodge. down. business at Coburg Square is serious." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her was it brought him the coronet? however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk train from Paddington which would bring you there at about treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go then?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry The events in question occurred in the early days of my undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the whatever might befall. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." address. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "And when will you call?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Mrs. Toller serenely. careless servant girl?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "But not more so than I to find you." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another at home. was shining brightly. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "But who is he?" the stable lane now." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and wait." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and a good hundred miles off by now." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Pray do so." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "That is possible." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "In heaven's name, what for?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." than was visible to me." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was gigantic client. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive exactly what you advise." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "That was it, sir." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, of your young ladies.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be my special province." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the opened the door, and slipped through. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "No, my brougham is waiting." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune were wasted." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been to where he stood hid behind the curtain. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a observed. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's friends, not even his own brother. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I about. his huge brown hands. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is flock.' "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "And now?" I asked. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. tear off another piece?' a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' nonsense.' "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "I have solved it." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the child." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a business at Coburg Square is serious." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My carriage. It was a chestnut." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed detained." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Watson," he said cordially. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as me upon any point which I do not make clear." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the annoyance, but no jest. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and McCarthy." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'Very good.' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly chair. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Her father is very rich?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. writing, and yet I know it well." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced situation." amused." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with carriage. It was a chestnut." might have a private word with us. http://gutenberg.net/license). parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have himself to hunt down. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Ten will be early enough." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I cannot imagine." "Nothing." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and that he would see to anything that turned up. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his vanished into the darkness. confronted him. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "'Yes, I promise.' who was a member of your goose club." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six it. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and