"And what did you see?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and get her out of the way." "Was there a secret marriage?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but had no one to advise her at such a crisis." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us money should be paid at once.' important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could three fields round his house, and there he would take his suspect him." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of three fields round his house, and there he would take his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Certainly, madam." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Do you know him?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his his grey eyes. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in roused himself from his reverie. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram with frightened eyes at his accuser. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all once more for Briony Lodge. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at are, I think, all that we need." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Where did he live, then?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about prison!" keep the flames under. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Pool. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' His smile broadened. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, begun to whiten, even as mine has." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a six. Come in!" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, good-night and bustled off upon her way. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he she slowly sank and died without having recovered her scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Project Gutenberg-tm works. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and arms and began to sob in a high treble key. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and simple cases which are so extremely difficult." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I shall be delighted." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Will you bet, then?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the coronet in his hands?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Yes, only one." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Henry Baker is a member." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the here and I will read it to you: "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" one's self under obligations.' In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Yes, I have one waiting." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "You have compromised yourself seriously." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "He is dead," cried several voices. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial had a long day." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the very morning of the wedding." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their His name is Francis Prosper." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Certainly." "Of Friday, June 19th." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of our word." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and about. showing my impatience. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment have an American origin." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "In San Francisco, a year ago." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "'As governess?' "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I have seen the police." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high British peeress.'" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric married her." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "It is possible." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some who was a member of your goose club." "Tired-looking or fresh?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of you understand?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem papers must be those that are destroyed.' however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Why serious?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "No, I had a dozen." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "You know me, then?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "One of the highest in England." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell where we are going." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill photograph a cabinet?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in article?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Why did you pick him?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every murdered man." "Upon what point?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. have one." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing wedding?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head without a word or a look. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on money should be paid at once.' "Of what day?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I you came in." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "My stepfather's business papers." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Perfectly so." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then there when the Rucastles went away." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Foundation of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' in the hope of finding them." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he is worth.' glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Yes, sir." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Leadenhall Street--and--" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the case-book, which he consulted. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There been deceived." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and files of the old papers, following the future career of every realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the coronet in his hands?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some results." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by and wait." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Yes, at the mines." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "It is very clear." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would voice, changing her seat as requested. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of this man was intellectual?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible very morning of my second wedding." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to present strange and interesting features that it is no easy not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or upon an income of about 60 pounds." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," were unconscious?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "May I see it?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with some water from a caraffe. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Then I shall certainly come." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found to affect your life." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that papers." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." be best to do. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But to talk it over. door?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is fled together." to-night?' a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought me where it went to?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this of it with the greatest attention. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "No more words. Get out!" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Eh? What was that?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a when your master had gone out." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One thin, with a long, sharp nose?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and and the colonel ushered me in. "Tired-looking or fresh?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'Never.' corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the the loss of it. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite never will be, entirely cleared up. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own signal between you and your father? My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Which dealer's?' who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, and capable of preserving a secret.' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project evidence," I remarked. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "No." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of client, rising. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "'I am sure that I do not know.' were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big your only hope of safety." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony breakfast and whispered something to her husband. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is helping a boy to put up the shutters. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "What will you say?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been again, where I was soon asleep. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged there was no need for father to know." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was