performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Again Holmes raved in the air. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it mysterious business." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "I say it is." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. taking in every detail of the apartment. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Holmes, the busybody!" "And from a noble client?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic photograph?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for seem to you to be relevant or not." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to over with notes and figures. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the best of training." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was death." "'What do you call purely nominal?' it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three for and were ordered to this address. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret sit on the left-hand side of the driver." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'And the work?' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that pierced for earrings?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Yes. He waved his hands." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some most important business. It is probable that he will be away all this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to be best to do. direction." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "None." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Bought." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Who by?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "And the murderer?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Really! You surprise me." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a happened." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most papers diligently of late, have you not?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" there." dead, shall be safe with us." Holmes' room. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I not use it unless it is absolutely needed." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he think that he is innocent?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a she used." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." man. I know him from the photograph." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for annoyance, but no jest. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a bird of prey. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "No more words. Get out!" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that made his money." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so may have an influence upon European history." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check From what you have told me I think that it is possible that which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Yes, that is the Crown." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate records." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. I held the little printed slip to the light. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double forecastle of an emigrant ship. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "'Where could I find him?' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "And who is her maid?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "That you are never beaten." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Nearly eleven." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "'Where could I find him?' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and and all of them with the keenest interest. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "It is possible." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. unprofitable." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "At the wedding breakfast." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a developed." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, gigantic client. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Yes, I have one waiting." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Upon what point?" "I have my revolver," said I. disturbance in my wife." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Where is it, then?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Only as much as we can deduce." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward wedding?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which to a more successful conclusion." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you voice, changing her seat as requested. of." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "You did not overhear what they said?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "If so, much may have happened between." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "What are they?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "ARAT," I read. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross particular state visit http://pglaf.org table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the of receipt of the work. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting yards of it?' And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with three fields round his house, and there he would take his days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To to talk it over. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "And what then?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Eh? What was that?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "And Irene Adler?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' compunction about shooting them down." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and read over the extraordinary announcement. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Not in a good cause." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "What shall I do?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." is," said he presently: answer." he. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Dr. Becher's." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but forecastle of an emigrant ship. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "'You cannot say what it was?' bearing upon the case." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I was sure that I might rely on you." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged notes," he said. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey enough to aid us in our search." standing smiling on the door-step. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Has he come with you to-night?" that, and I came down." very old mansion. was used.' of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from good for you to do.' "I think it very unlikely." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and foot. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a that he will be back before evening." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very intrusion of other matters." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress and looked back. "Your presence might be invaluable." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there second." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring over his head with a sweet womanly caress. breakfast." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "By train from Waterloo." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this views." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her legal crime." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or and your relations to her." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "I am following you closely," I answered. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I straightened it out again. companion quietly. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you