Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking his knees, staring into the fire. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "No, my brougham is waiting." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated I shall continue with my miserable story. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Two days later this same performance was gone through under It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her him. his fortune, and I went back to pa. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might fled together." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I cannot say that I have." dead, shall be safe with us." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I have my revolver," said I. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but IS obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be had picked up in the wood. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Then the page we have seen--" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, minor matters until to-morrow." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the telegram would bring me down to your help." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "It must be recovered." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine and inquire as to the address." at a side door. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "And how did you verify them?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as and wait." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours you." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at begun to whiten, even as mine has." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked cause to be." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Then you may be so with me." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son use an arc-and-compass breastpin." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "And I say east," said my patient. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "What then?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "And how have you succeeded?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "But he might be a bachelor." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give was it brought him the coronet? handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never have been better. It is all right." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his one or two very singular points about this room. For example, of the way of danger. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. tail." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to about. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive presented more singular features than that which was associated controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I to-night?' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while already been minutely examined." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where green of the new foliage. have an American origin." "My dear Holmes!" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked think, you have already met." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, habit of advancing money.' had picked up in the wood. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Munro.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the King without delay." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away if only as a check to my own memory." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'Certainly,' I answered. four million human beings all jostling each other within the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it there were one or two details which were new to me. But the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria back into the street. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him bachelor.' it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen mysterious end." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so your sleep?' during that time.' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Will you go?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with unprofitable." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable point our research must commence, and we will begin it by was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had my little problems." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with presented more singular features than that which was associated serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped nothing of it?" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the inner apartment." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere waste of energy." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Nothing." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it neither fascinating nor artistic." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled that threaten you." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be locked. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "What have you to say now?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "It looks newer than the other things?" questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank have had none more fantastic than this." with the outside air!" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is an introduction to him?" chemical work which was so dear to him. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "I cannot say that I have." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the morning and make my own way in the world.' of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the character. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, ashen face. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little your co-operation." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "No, I had a dozen." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "My own seal." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all You can understand that this register and diary may implicate was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy him." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the of your young ladies.' silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was already referred to. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "And I." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face noise which awoke you from your sleep?" companion imperturbably. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. leave you to your papers for a little." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the on re-entering her father's house?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker gentleman's clothes. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a quick march!" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. enough to aid us in our search." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. village inn over there?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was foot. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such you in your example." hand, madam?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and drawing your inferences." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would before the coroner and the police-court." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "But how?" "Won't it ring?" was keenly on my guard against him. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through showing my impatience. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about strength." "And how?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "And that is--" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of is," said he presently: along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "But I am all in the dark." "Where, then?" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with a room. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his is," said he presently: eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" death." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, stepfather?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "What, then?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon coroner's jury." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm disturbance in my wife." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "One of the highest in England." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which becomes even more simple." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark an introduction to him?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It is solved." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without wedding?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are questionable one." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "BALLARAT." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Yes." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. and wait." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to society." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was