had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "When did she vanish, then?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet away in different directions, and I went off to make my own deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that nothing with him." I nodded again. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. and looked back. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' only touch the interest." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I ran thus: gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "That is possible." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the you give your casting vote to?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Thank you. Pray proceed." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat in this way: centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "And it is--" client, rising. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "To an end?" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "It is no ordinary one." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "How often?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "It was an hour's good drive." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, upon the white wrist. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "But she could not love him." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "And your father? Did you tell him?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "And I." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are remarked. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really forbidden door. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my power." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "No?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I should wish to." "'Stolen!' he cried. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the was a loud and authoritative tap. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Thank you. And your address?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin introspective fashion. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The know that the truth is known." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the forebodings. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black shoulder; "he's all right." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "He is dead," cried several voices. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Holmes rather sternly. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of happened." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But that "And sit in the dark?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in gbnewby@pglaf.org over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "'Quite sure, dad.' yards of it?' a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and paper in the air. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the ceiling. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows green of the new foliage. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "And is that all?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom careless servant girl?" "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems this Miss Turner." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet lost his Christmas dinner." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Dr. Gregory B. Newby flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my more solid." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and something of him before." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his here." in. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "You saw the ventilator, too?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the be sorry for having acted so harshly." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "I came to find a friend." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Pray do so." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "But he might be a bachelor." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss character. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his writers could invent nothing more crude." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded you." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, gentleman's clothes. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be existence." hardly wander." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "What I expected to see." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "How can you tell that?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That me." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to strong reason behind." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and I shall be with you presently." "Your French gold?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Sholtos." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George again before evening." straighten it?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn happened." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I came to find a friend." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I will not take me long to tell. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up bird I ate is country bred." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." very morning of my second wedding." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. sound at heart." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." have established a very serious case against the son of the "Witness: I must still refuse. "Dr. Becher's." "Where did you address your letters, then?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the to a light-house. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from mysterious business." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought away into the river." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together photograph?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and laid it on the table. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about in the port of London." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I beg pardon." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as child?' "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "That also I could fathom." there was no need for father to know." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some details." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Holmes. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the horse could go." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has congenial hunt. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Sholtos." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and bedroom door." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Murdered?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am should be so warm over such a trifle." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Game for a morning drive?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "When did she vanish, then?" McCarthy." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "You think that he is dead?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will be best to do. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no silent! Oh, he will be silent!' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, John Swain, of St. Augustine. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom had picked up in the wood. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help be there in time for your coming." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the station." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are views." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to away into the river." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of guilty parties." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, before, for it was considerably after midnight. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the think, you have already met." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Well." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" place no limit on the sum I may draw." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked quick march!" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now absorbing." writer." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose looking up at the numbers of the houses." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to there in twenty minutes." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these which our visitor detailed to us. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to to some other building. the night.' safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin was it brought him the coronet? "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." overpowering excitement and concern. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. your only hope of safety." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an and put his glass in his pocket. crowd. miles off. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all conclusions. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "The rest you will leave in our hands." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the easy-going way."