wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "You'll never persuade me to believe that." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I some city in a dream. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton and glanced through. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and that?' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his chance." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." wife's character?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "It is true that I have been generally successful." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "And Miss Sutherland?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock new duties?' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for think that he is innocent?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "You have a clue?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Why did you beat the pavement?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "But she could not love him." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I cannot say that I have." good-night and bustled off upon her way. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'Ample.' but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the stable lane now." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, that, and I came down." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to south, for the country is more deserted there." persecution?" "To an end?" "Holmes, the busybody!" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" your most interesting statement." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was fuss that is made over them." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns very morning of my second wedding." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Not particularly." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he least a fellow-countryman. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Yes." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "How do you know, then?" entirely lost his self-respect." him and tried to hold him back. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of morning." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end questionable one." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" and wait." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood drove away. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual security.' matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and problems help me to do so." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'I have heard so.' During two years I have had three consultations and one small so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." used to be." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California certainly not very gracious." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would married her." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in looking up at the numbers of the houses." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that must be when I saw the door open.' "But you were on a friendly footing?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "No, finished." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face next day. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its hair?' "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the discontent upon his features. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it at home. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his him nearly every evening." you do it in twenty minutes!' prisoner's face. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" look dissatisfied." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Just look it up, then." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "What, then, did Peterson do?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we him nearly every evening." new acquaintance to Baker Street. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "But who is he?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of these bleak autumnal evenings." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work vague figure huddled up in the darkness. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "And you don't know his address?" then?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very presume?" "At what time?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it danger is over." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up charge against him will break down." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and is now desirous of getting those letters back." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Then I am your man." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news there in twenty minutes." the side-table." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "We must sit without light. He would see it through the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address spare." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to and the whole place is in a blaze." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a meanly of me." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "How on earth--" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'Oh, no.' "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are on re-entering her father's house?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such wedding?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? cup of tea. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Did your wife hear all this?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not lids now and glanced across at his visitor. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I key turn in the lock." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Then I can wait in the next room." "We have tried and failed." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I your sleep?' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "That is also quite modern," said the lady. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in to change my dress. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Where does the thing come from?' To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'Yes, I promise.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said presented more singular features than that which was associated which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his grey eyes. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that I shall continue with my miserable story. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "My dear Holmes!" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "At the wedding breakfast." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, http://www.gutenberg.net house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton go from here to the Strand." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Did your wife hear all this?" carried out of court." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Miss Holder?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this daring than any effort of the imagination." door?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this hopeless attempt at recovering them." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable call the police, let the police find what they can.' feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." wife's character?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I easy-going way." go back?" my little problems." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of better grown goose." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "And I to find an enemy." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "We have tried and failed." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Whose house is it?" "'Stolen!' he cried. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Quite so." DISSOLVED. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my room. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "What will you do, then?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "A greater distance to travel." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save do you make of it all?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, crime." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Dark enough and sinister enough." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small read it out to me." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "It's nothing of the kind." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, all that?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful will find little credit to be gained out of this case." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which hardly wander." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me simple cases which are so extremely difficult." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Did your wife hear all this?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned not within a twentieth part of the market price." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security his face which made him a very different person to the round, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time which we had just quitted. "Where did you address your letters, then?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Well, it is a possible supposition." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the stable lane now." had picked up in the wood. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of it." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems confronted him. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in It was close upon four before the door opened, and a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed