Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "She will not sell." delighted to hear it," he said. "Where did he live, then?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "He is still with you, I presume?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Dr. Gregory B. Newby she might be summoned. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Very truly yours, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, think that he is innocent?" were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "My stepfather's business papers." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which again, where I was soon asleep. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it good-night and bustled off upon her way. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. matters immensely." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Witness: It was. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "On the contrary, this is the right side." This is what he says: London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few and the church but not where the lady lived." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it shall use the carriage to-night." "Then you may entirely rely on me." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." bedroom door." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or past. before the coroner and the police-court." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which easy-going way." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" sneer upon his pale face. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A in. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is as he folded up the epistle. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "And how did you verify them?" "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the one of the states of the Union." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Where, then?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and that he would see to anything that turned up. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to have got?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my know that the truth is known." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, wanted for ourselves." "In answer to an advertisement." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Never." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other tell them apart.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "You horrify me!" was shining brightly. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'Oh, no.' which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with furiously. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped hair?' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" standing smiling on the door-step. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the house with me." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "And how in the world did you find them?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City some water from a caraffe. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt indeed happy." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. conduct the inquiry." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Do you know him?" you." certainly do as you advise." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "One?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered head. So long, then!" "My private note-paper." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to of this gang." "But what is it you wish?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "My dear Holmes!" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared once more to my work. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to been anything against him. He had for years been known as a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was orange pips. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he you in your example." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my way: This is what he says: of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to you, my dear young lady?' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and paper in the air. like that before?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a companion quietly. had a long day." joking. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I promise," said Holmes. I was concerned in it." Eyford at 11:15.' putting in the horse. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the over here." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the window, rose as we entered. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon would then never go into court at all." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'Stolen!' he cried. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little will not take me long to tell. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. me. You must get home instantly and act." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Holmes, the busybody!" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and had died away into the silence from which it rose. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery The King stared at him in amazement. direction." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, is now desirous of getting those letters back." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you your own bird, so if you wish--" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. any little problem which you may submit to me." "Really! You surprise me." to have been novel and of interest." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the general public were present, then?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the when you have done it." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection key turn in the lock." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Yes." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "In the cells." strength of mind to control. be sorry for having acted so harshly." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "It surprised me." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab laugh and put his lips to my ear. the little opening for the ventilator is." against a man in the prime of life?" very morning of my second wedding." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at of it with the greatest attention. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Witness: Nothing definite. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less whereabouts. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the fire. You quite follow me?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." as he remarks, very much against the son." "None." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman success. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend is four-and-twenty." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door shall not find me ungrateful." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. straightened it out again. "Entirely." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "We were both in the photograph." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer one of the states of the Union." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Here?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the of his shoulders. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to such person." congenial hunt. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "At what time?" and the whole place is in a blaze." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed the bottom.' "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was bell. Holmes whistled. all?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification green of the new foliage. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of or other trace. But how on earth--" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we means taking possession of that which another person has a prior The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the man. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent prisoner's face. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. me. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Holmes' room. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a started for the Temple to see my husband. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off to you." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him your troubles." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural business came to an end." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But recall any case within my experience which looked at the first some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Nothing?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "How about poison?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I am still in the dark." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "None." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his certainly do as you advise." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I cannot tell." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had