"Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and to some other building. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled hour." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. second window is the one that I jumped from." "I guessed as much." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little infinite languor in his face. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Pray be precise as to details," said he. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he weigh very heavily upon my conscience." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Where is it, then?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, companion. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "I am in hopes that she does." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his copied or distributed: Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "What is it, then--a fire?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of 11:15.' miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." had a long day." this as likely?" "Very. But will he see it?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not unprofitable." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. outbreak?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We 1.F. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Of what day?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to already been minutely examined." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "No, but the enclosure is." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and all of them with the keenest interest. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "When did it break out?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, noting anything else of interest. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where like that before?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Ah!" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Lee, in the county of Kent." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "No." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "From his hat?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "VIOLET HUNTER." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which my secret was safe in his possession. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the little opening for the ventilator is." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE congratulate you again." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. looking up at the numbers of the houses." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the the inner apartment." "'Yes, sir.' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It is solved." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he his face. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Never to return." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to opened the door, and slipped through. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary woman." again, where I was soon asleep. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson heavily into it. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me business." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "How do you know, then?" gigantic client. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Yes, but only for you and me." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Holmes rather sternly. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Frequently." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to http://www.gutenberg.net which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." goes." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Pray do so." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every tapping his fingers upon the table. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have main points of my analysis." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "No, but the enclosure is." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Did he not advertise?" Lee, in the county of Kent." who was a member of your goose club." carried out of court." "No, finished." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three this man was intellectual?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they case-book, which he consulted. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I have a cab outside." of a light. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and had no one to advise her at such a crisis." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Here?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "What is it, then--a fire?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the tension within him. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "When did she vanish, then?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." have got?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were and inquire as to the address." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "How many? I don't know." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive bears upon the case?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One name is different." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he goes." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and the whole place is in a blaze." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt said he. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "And now?" He raised his hand. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. with frightened eyes at his accuser. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the warnings." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a any." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly place no limit on the sum I may draw." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old in your London, you will know that the office of the company is gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his on re-entering her father's house?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any that I am arrested." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to developed." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. hour." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend derbies." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, persecution?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and be best to do. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "No legal papers or certificates?" I was concerned in it." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper me. You must get home instantly and act." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Yes." "Thank you. And your address?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "No." ventilator." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "I beg pardon." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Not social, then?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "'Entirely.' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and the colonel ushered me in. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a had died away into the silence from which it rose. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I have hopes." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "You were travelling in the States?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate you." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' public press." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then that you wished to speak to me?' of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "What is it, then--a fire?" to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I emerged. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father be. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Yes." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Munro.' what I may call a really hard day's work." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with it." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two means taking possession of that which another person has a prior I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith is worth.' such attractions and accomplishments?' "No." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "You are hungry," I remarked. my secret was safe in his possession. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off to talk it over. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there this Miss Turner." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Yes, the wine-cellar." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man you understand?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See ways of our fellow-men." door?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of your co-operation." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy some mystery and the punishment of some crime." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the been able to understand it, in a very few words. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, following enigmatical notices: was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the very old mansion. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." I was concerned in it." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well everything which you would wish to know." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical on re-entering her father's house?" in my life." "Frequently." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly was the fact that his father should, according to his account, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Game for a morning drive?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I despair." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have public press." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of figure." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after bore every mark of being an average commonplace British elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Yes, sir." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." this as likely?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in