from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything know all about it," he snarled. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the coronet in his hands?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "'Ample.' my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no together. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his rat could hardly pass through." visitors." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its business at Coburg Square is serious." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great there is a decided draught." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Pray do so." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a of them has the shutters up.' prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or believe that I should never have any practice at all. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and your Highness to the police-station?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that you give your casting vote to?" bonnet, and went out." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you there was no need for father to know." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'Yes.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "'It is locked up,' I answered. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug You want to know what became of those geese?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of seen the man in the road." residence of the great financier. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "You horrify me." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in an introduction to him?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I straightened it out again. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "To ruin me." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man one or two very singular points about this room. For example, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Why serious?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some these bleak autumnal evenings." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we once more to my work. "There are none." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The papers on the sundial.'" could gather together that I was able to avert another public "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to row." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Yes, from Horsham." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed opened the door, and slipped through. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "What, then, did Peterson do?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that success. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "What will you do, then?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man future lives." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which hopeless attempt at recovering them." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid that I am arrested." "And you don't know his address?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Perhaps I have." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'What then?' I asked. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply You can understand that this register and diary may implicate view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "But how?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Well." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but thin legs towards the fire. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "No." "No bad?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an husband's writing, madam." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "To ruin me." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me long narrative. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white this Miss Turner." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote your troubles." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this promised to bring home. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Leave Paddington by the 11:15." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project key of the affair now." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could go--none." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What status with the IRS. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your entirely devoid of interest." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Eyford." there in twenty minutes." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see would apply.' the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid was used.' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his society." him nearly every evening." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an village inn over there?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'Yes, it was gone.' quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most already been minutely examined." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle on in his house." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled your bag." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. these bleak autumnal evenings." out of this horrible affair." 1.E.9. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact gigantic client. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a stepfather?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the away to you." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he key of the affair now." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "You heard nothing yourself last night?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who little adventures." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "If I can be of use." "But it has twice been burgled." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not to-morrow." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you fled together." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Holmes. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have this man was intellectual?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could in one or two places in England?' "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I will do it." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls lumber-room." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the delighted to hear it," he said. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "The gentleman I describe." she to prove their authenticity?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to introspective fashion. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, best detective that ever lived. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "But she could not love him." of campaign. power." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the shall use the carriage to-night." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have purpose of examination. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is about here speaks of his kindness to him." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim was feeling which was the fattest.' with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "At what time?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic matter over." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers indiscretion." one's self under obligations.' "'What then?' I asked. quick march!" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her invisible to me," I remarked. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, to you." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "What! a murderous attack?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both room?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "To the police?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical call for it in person on Monday morning.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most gone before you can get him to hospital." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "It is to him that this trophy belongs." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature too. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is when your master had gone out." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Not social, then?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked most important business. It is probable that he will be away all himself to hunt down. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "You horrify me!" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." your own bird, so if you wish--" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the hair?' comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if details." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a his cane at the bell-pull. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the nursery. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat as the one I chose?' not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. chemical work which was so dear to him. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I vanished into the darkness. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Yes, there are nearly always some there." away into the river." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "And you don't know his address?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "You have a clue?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in that?' "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the tail." "Yes, certainly." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he danger is over." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Serpentine Avenue. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for this as likely?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "'What then?' I asked. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.'