purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." any little problem which you may submit to me." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there DISSOLVED. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm any more." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "But it has twice been burgled." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some in him." even of instruction." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your not fit the lock." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any least a most suspicious remark." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "'Certainly not.' "Ah!" "'Certainly not. But why?' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "But he might be a bachelor." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Thank you. And your address?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without dead, shall be safe with us." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "He said too much." in the port of London." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove of the one which your family is now devouring." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." would apply.' "In what way?" asked Holmes. behind me. had picked up in the wood. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Tired-looking or fresh?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "I came to find a friend." "On Monday." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and felt?" "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. knowledge of the world." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most him and tried to hold him back. "Precisely." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Stoke Moran." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'A dozen yards or so.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I I shall communicate with you." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, this as likely?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible allusion to a rat. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed deduce something from that?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "When did she vanish, then?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." gone. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Chief Executive and Director minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked round with crates and massive boxes. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the call you and give you the chance." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in that you saw all that I did." "I should be immensely obliged to you." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "And who is her maid?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging asked. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'How far from the body?' the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "By no means." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you papers diligently of late, have you not?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that your equipment. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Perfectly so." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the forbidden door. was it brought him the coronet? man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he was shining brightly. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "The best possible." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the morning." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "I will, Miss Turner." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "No." too. "She walked into the breakfast-room." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with this man was intellectual?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Then you may entirely rely on me." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has results." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "His face fell immediately. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "My last client of the sort was a king." started for the Temple to see my husband. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was http://gutenberg.net/license). seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a very morning of my second wedding." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see tell them apart.' outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I have seen the police." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Very. But will he see it?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong said he. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the matter." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. were wasted." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the a monotonous occupation." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon anything to a woman, for she would have her way." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "What! You do not mean bodies?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you later, upon the night of May 2nd." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Where did you address your letters, then?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do is now desirous of getting those letters back." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even business in the City. She little knew what. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may http://gutenberg.net/license). "No, distinctly professional." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body business." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my orange pips. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one face and glided from the room. "How did you trace it, then?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his lamp. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. gigantic client. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" to have been novel and of interest." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, at a side door. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we you." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest light and attacked it." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend not use it unless it is absolutely needed." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. chance." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Oh, yes, easily." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "And what then?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no His name is Francis Prosper." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an the coronet in his hand?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Yes, certainly." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy call it cruel." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet appointment with me for six o'clock?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "On Monday." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Gutenberg-tm License. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of towards the blaze. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "She walked into the breakfast-room." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with there when the Rucastles went away." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "I am in hopes that she does." most interesting one." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "What have you done?" asked Holmes. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. weapon." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "But how?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "But it has twice been burgled." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which awkward doing business with an alias." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day James Windibank. Voilà tout!" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, place of silver." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I pound a week." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'Ample.' presented more singular features than that which was associated "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom entirely devoid of interest." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. me. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the driver. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all upon the white wrist. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a forehead. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'Then let me do so?' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "You horrify me." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of disturbance in my wife." shall not find me ungrateful." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found intimate personal affairs in this public manner." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt."