conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "It came here." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Then I shall certainly come." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. death." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I cannot think." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by you came in." "And on what day did he meet his death?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but bled considerably." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. of this gang." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Pray do so." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. looking up at the numbers of the houses." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the window, rose as we entered. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I have seen the police." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, confronted him. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "A client, then?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one crime." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he again on its way. "But what harm can there be in that?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. call it cruel." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "How did you trace it, then?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Yes?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. taking in every detail of the apartment. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the if I call to-morrow?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years thought that she would have been so carried away." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a take the flies, but not before." "Married! When?" "Nothing." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, it." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Never to return." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Gutenberg-tm License. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, relief. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez fashion which was peculiar to him. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he dates and names. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have useful material for showing traces. The double line a little trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a once more to my work. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "And you don't know his address?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for cost them two and thirty pounds." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." residence of the great financier. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be have accepted such a situation. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "So I am. Very much so." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" fire. You quite follow me?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. him and tried to hold him back. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the nursery. "No, but the enclosure is." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Whose house is it?" is a common subject for conversation. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which make me his representative both with the servants and with the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Was he the only applicant?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Precisely." fear." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "What?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some against a man in the prime of life?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. leave you to your papers for a little." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "My private note-paper." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow she to prove their authenticity?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through newspaper selections." wedding?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring come either from the window or the door. My attention was such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "He said that you could solve anything." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "So I heard. You have him here?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Not in the least." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That if I call to-morrow?" his eyes and forehead. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east used to be." "Witness: Nothing definite. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. nonsense.' Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as events than those which have happened in my own family." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Yes, it was twisted." "Never." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London me where it went to?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken there." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in that you can jump it.' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, placed his cuttings. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Where did you address your letters, then?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done good for you to do.' "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Did you become engaged then?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "So I have heard." used to be." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me could go. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That over here." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us that "Yes." I nodded again. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'I am sure if I had known--' could not account in any way for the presence of the missing The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and charged with?" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set before, for it was considerably after midnight. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the if she died from some sudden fright." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. I have it here in my museum." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "I have my revolver," said I. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it lids now and glanced across at his visitor. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her there in twenty minutes." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "But I have heard all that you have heard." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Count Von Kramm." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Where did you address your letters, then?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Count Von Kramm." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his quick march!" "The vanishing of the lady." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind through." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody less than 26s. 4d. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "What then?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard threw himself down with his face to the pillow. hereditary King of Bohemia." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. there was no need for father to know." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. murdered man." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey and prosperity to your house. Good-night." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a your only hope of safety." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Is purely nominal.' "Game for a morning drive?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for read it out to me." suddenly upon us." heavy and sharp instrument." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "But how?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to-night's adventure." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a carpenter." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair rat could hardly pass through." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of so far?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the these bleak autumnal evenings." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Young McCarthy must be got off, however." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project forbidden door. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man is," said he presently: framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the ceiling. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it awaited us upon the table. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an lost his Christmas dinner." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "What!" he roared. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the room. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Very good.' family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You are all wrong." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "And sit in the dark?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the sooner or later she must fall a victim. introspective fashion. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such with some details as to your case." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious in his power. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay on re-entering her father's house?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and next day. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" purpose equally well?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "But how?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of yards of it?' clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his to-night's adventure." daring than any effort of the imagination." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "And that is--" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how direction." him to be an active member of the medical profession." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. locked." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Does that suggest anything?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the