"My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your weary and pale-looking. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some it." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' back into the street. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'Where could I find him?' "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" fluttered off among the others. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "None." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "You will not go there first?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." and all of them with the keenest interest. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless me." records." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. together. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang appeared upon the scene." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must events than those which have happened in my own family." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Yes." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Cross for the Continent." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. never came back." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." drove away. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master floor. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "The doctor?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Do you go out much in society?" "And who is her maid?" think that he is innocent?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another never will be, entirely cleared up. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the man. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." forecastle of an emigrant ship. was shining brightly. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes towards the blaze. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "How about poison?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "No more words. Get out!" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "My dear Holmes!" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish mysterious business." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to hurried by. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our then?" "None." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and pressing in one house as in another. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for useful material for showing traces. The double line a little after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the of them has the shutters up.' following enigmatical notices: "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each opportunities to fix the problem. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Who by?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with second." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, infinite languor in his face. figure." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was seven miles from Eyford Station.' "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "My opinion is in no way altered." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "He disappeared so suddenly." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Then I can wait in the next room." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I have my revolver," said I. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the coronet in his hand?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your note?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered do.' look dissatisfied." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only not interfere, come what may. You understand?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, about. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Well, it is a possible supposition." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the was a perfect sample of the class. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you shoulder; "he's all right." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Texas, I think." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me bird I ate is country bred." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the devil!" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going triumphant cloud from his cigarette. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my nonsense.' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of young Openshaw's." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding down. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Precisely." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until maid will bring up your coffee." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this to-night?' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a straightened it out again. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the and laid it on the table. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone situation." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's experiences." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "But what harm can there be in that?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Dr. Becher's." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was a little more before I quite committed myself. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to tell me that you intended to go into harness." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this society." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I it were putty." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'Yes.' him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to forecastle of an emigrant ship. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "No." go back?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. had formerly been in part my own. "What do you mean?" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was as he folded up the epistle. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of papers." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of cigar and let me expound." the general public were present, then?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was attention." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Yes, there are nearly always some there." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my voice, changing her seat as requested. "Breckinridge is his name." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "A confidential servant?" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the nursery. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from weighed down with some great anxiety. "No, my brougham is waiting." again on its way. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. posted to-day." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it to change my dress. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other presented which may be striking and bizarre without being fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to again." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his exactly what you advise." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "And how did he make his money?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Of what day?" "But of what society?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without woman." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he in this way: closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was soul! here is her carriage at the door." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Do you go out much in society?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, had this final quarrel? the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Have you her photograph?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own I think that I could be of assistance to you." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their three fields round his house, and there he would take his information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though The King stared at him in amazement. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'Oh, no.' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "But who is he?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of This is what he says: labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I assure you that I am in your hands." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were noble correspondent could be. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me some mystery and the punishment of some crime." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have has little to do with my story." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "What office?" giving me time to thank him. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied himself to tell his story. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William the dangers which encompass me." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it bears upon the case?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Never to return." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Ah!" future lives." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "No sign of it?" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something allusion to a rat. bled considerably." public press." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "I cannot imagine." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion,