ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the goes." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" question," said Holmes, smiling. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "They are typewritten," I remarked. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet train from Paddington which would bring you there at about present." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "But how?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Entirely." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the the house with me." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the himself. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were it." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." laugh and put his lips to my ear. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." look upon these things in a different way." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever side. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Which dealer's?' Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary prove to be little relation between the different incidents of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it prisoner's face. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "My own seal." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I say it is." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! danger is over." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed obstinate." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" as he remarks, very much against the son." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in 1.F. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive friend's singular character. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of people in all walks of life. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "No." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to ceremony." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Was the window open?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now shag which I had seen upon the previous night. clang of the bell. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the nothing of it?" quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest standing smiling on the door-step. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of desk. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is upon a handsome competence. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'Is purely nominal.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "What then?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was as yours." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch and inquire as to the address." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my strength of mind to control. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt my special province." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." gentleman's clothes. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and dramatic, in fact." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone that there was nothing in it, after all." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Why, what do you mean?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows situation." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close for the market.' and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "You have compromised yourself seriously." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'I have already given you my word.' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler comes from the middle window." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE villagers almost as much as their master. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able been deceived." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you a good hundred miles off by now." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish chemical work which was so dear to him. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you again, where I was soon asleep. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are already been minutely examined." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, respectable self." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard ways including including checks, online payments and credit card there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his would apply.' that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Stolen." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof been." "An enemy?" sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it not use it unless it is absolutely needed." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. so far?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. once more to my work. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Oh, yes, easily." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "What will you say?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "You think so, too?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been here and I will read it to you: "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made cigar and let me expound." "Nothing." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "But to whom?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "That is easily got." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "That sounds a little paradoxical." how narrow had been my escape. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "You forget that I know nothing about it." meant." "I don't believe it." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Won't it ring?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "It is very clear." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was keenly on my guard against him. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Then you may be so with me." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Dirty?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a developed." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a suspect him." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, other lovers by making love himself." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our written. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If problems help me to do so." bell. Holmes whistled. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "When did it break out?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A use an arc-and-compass breastpin." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less seven miles from Eyford Station.' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Well." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in burst out into a roar of laughter. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "And how did you verify them?" forebodings. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in extraordinary contortions. when you have done it." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little hardly wander." "It was." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried enter Dr. Roylott's room." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear observed. "It certainly sounds feasible." "No good news?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "And what then?" undoubtedly my uncle's." straighten it?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Was he the only applicant?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the presume?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to I nodded again. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his