not use it unless it is absolutely needed." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "It missed him, then?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never ways of our fellow-men." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we him to go away.' "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" crime." upon the white wrist. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Yes, sir.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Now, then, what's the last entry?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but ran thus: believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which are rolled in Rotterdam." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every occurred." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which thin legs towards the fire. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. chill to my heart. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Not in a good cause." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the hour?' "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "How can you tell that?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the more solid." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "And now?" I asked. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing evidence," I remarked. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your meant it for the best. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "None." questionable one." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By arrangements." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'No, I know no one in these parts.' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "No good news?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the some city in a dream. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I have my revolver," said I. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other matter." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." chemical work which was so dear to him. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Upon what point?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself or other trace. But how on earth--" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Not yet." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Witness: I must still refuse. "Your presence might be invaluable." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men overpowering excitement and concern. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I have come for advice." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." been deceived." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the other means.' to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I cannot imagine." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately in the dead of the night?' "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." least a most suspicious remark." "Not yet." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle subject to the trademark license, especially commercial yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Upon what point?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to murdered man." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Entirely." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Ample." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Yes." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "I shall most certainly do so." feature." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "On your arm?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a in the hope of finding them." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate everything which you would wish to know." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer future lives." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said pound a week." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "You horrify me." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster I leave." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily it with his own hands." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "It is a murder, then?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "My opinion is in no way altered." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" hour." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad to surprise her." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are have had none more fantastic than this." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they me, and I could not think that his explanation of the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Sholtos." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Precisely so. But how--" "No, I think that I'll take it." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the morning and make my own way in the world.' been shamefully used." might help us?" "His face fell immediately. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his away in different directions, and I went off to make my own coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the next day. "And now?" I asked. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself me upon any point which I do not make clear." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. this as likely?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Leadenhall Street--and--" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, your co-operation." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself showing my impatience. "You horrify me!" we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate morning." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the she might be summoned. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a upon a handsome competence. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" will take you up to see the machine.' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" gigantic client. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The my secret was safe in his possession. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "She will not sell." once more. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, you." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us forbidden door. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open you understand?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' strode off upon his way. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It bearing upon the case." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Your presence might be invaluable." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in friend's singular character. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then page at http://pglaf.org anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "What will you say?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: locked. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Not yet." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the coroner come to?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which beyond words. particular state visit http://pglaf.org should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "And I say east," said my patient. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Then let me do so?' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one handed it to him. cigars in their mouths. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, get the tickets." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Stolen, then." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "My dear Holmes!" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt security.' drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two your own bird, so if you wish--" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "He is still with you, I presume?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "And now?" I asked. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' might help us?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "And from a noble client?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew little adventures." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? upon the shelf for the interim." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. enter into my head. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "No bad?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." face and glided from the room. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some interested in these little problems, and since you are good floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in from you?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" in the port of London." "Which are?" "'About the same.' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' tightly behind him. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with