appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and the whole place is in a blaze." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I public press." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what fact, we may call it conclusive." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink rooms." "VIOLET HUNTER." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "One of the highest in England." "Yes, from Horsham." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "'I have heard so.' another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a drawing your inferences." "What is it?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of your young ladies.' the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked are, I think, all that we need." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up child?' England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing ago." "'Most admirably.' would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." he. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his confronted him. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round matter over." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Frequently." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I am still in the dark." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the served to weaken the effect. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn disappearance of the bride.'" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "What do you mean?" "No. What a strange idea!" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was constraint." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Eyford." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who trifles." lamp. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" chair. gone. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a has little to do with my story." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the paper in the air. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "And you don't know his address?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and had formerly been in part my own. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe to that open window." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I am armed." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas a suggestive one." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Stolen." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been possible that we could bring him back to her? delirious. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would them, and came down just as you departed. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her mystery may be cleared along those lines." been." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "If I can be of use." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Then what has happened to him?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Here?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I cannot tell." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall had no one to advise her at such a crisis." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Look there!" said he. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in down in his armchair and closing his eyes. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was of Fenchurch Street." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Never to return." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "You don't mind breaking the law?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies papers diligently of late, have you not?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "That also I could fathom." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "But his lameness?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his away to you." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "He is still with you, I presume?" "I should like to see him very much." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "I shall be delighted." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Can I be of assistance?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was emerged. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "'What, the red-headed man?' can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "But of what society?" "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in a very precise fashion." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, politicians who had been sent down from the North. "To an end?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He have not had my rubber." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "And for present expenses?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and as this. Pray let me have the details." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible call for it in person on Monday morning.' Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "'Why that?' I asks. nothing with him." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him your only hope of safety." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his colonel looking down at me. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "That you are never beaten." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Yes." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Whose house is it?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. your own bird, so if you wish--" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I am all attention, madam." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." name is different." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I was mad--insane." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is to me. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It any." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so morning." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 good-night and bustled off upon her way. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Of what?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. get the tickets." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "'Never,' said I. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Will you go?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to amused." "When did it break out?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Perhaps we may make them less so." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "No, I had a dozen." colour had been driven from his face. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to wedding?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of in one or two places in England?' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" arrested. You then--" "It must be recovered." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "No, I think that I'll take it." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "The rest you will leave in our hands." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with presented more singular features than that which was associated wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the your room." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young morning." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning from you?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever not within a twentieth part of the market price." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me you." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an away into the river." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to as noiselessly as she had come. man. I know him from the photograph." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and no precautions can guard against." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a this poor creature." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he most important business. It is probable that he will be away all in one or two places in England?' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is if she died from some sudden fright." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him assist you in forming an opinion." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor at once, for I have only half an hour." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief really the only notable feature about the thing." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Yesterday." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Will you go?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias opened the door, and slipped through. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in again." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to guilty parties." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Dark enough and sinister enough." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Then I do not see the point." is worth.' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on remarked. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "'And what salary do you ask?' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I came to find a friend." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must I shall communicate with you." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Has he come with you to-night?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution within hail.' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Where, then?" experiences." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me it. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that