"'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I status with the IRS. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I arrested. You then--" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I will, Miss Turner." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you gigantic client. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so strength of mind to control. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. night.' said he. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, felt?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. papers." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "How did he come?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those into the bag, and made for the door. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Why serious?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over politicians who had been sent down from the North. galvanised. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Certainly." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of been able to understand it, in a very few words. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "But how?" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a your sleep?' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who beyond words. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my extraordinary contortions. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat copied or distributed: hands. it means?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' just ask you whether you had heard it.' trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" before, for it was considerably after midnight. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "If so, much may have happened between." "'Stolen!' he cried. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Why, what do you mean?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Certainly." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "On your arm?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and as he remarks, very much against the son." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man a monotonous occupation." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "In heaven's name, what for?" of the way of danger. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the read over the extraordinary announcement. "What will you do, then?" drawing your inferences." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would which our visitor detailed to us. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my room. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of redistribution. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg sentimental considerations in the background which would induce consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Very. But will he see it?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress question. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length that you can jump it.' fled together." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we The summons was a brief and urgent one. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "I should like to see him very much." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room his cane at the bell-pull. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "None." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." His smile broadened. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Why? What do you mean?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Who was the criminal, then?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "No, but the enclosure is." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Precisely." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I am to be neutral?" occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "It is very kind of you." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which photograph?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which directors, with the result that you have seen." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was disappearance of the bride.'" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" young Openshaw's." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been present." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Where does the thing come from?' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to touch that coronet?' begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon again." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined despaired of." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Yes, that is the Crown." "The landlord of the Alpha." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a directors have had misgivings upon the subject." your billet.' "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. who was a member of your goose club." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking lips." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still someone who had been in Australia." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and tail." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood For additional contact information: to have been novel and of interest." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' less than 26s. 4d. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb them?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Pray tell us what has happened to you." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was lips." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "You are all wrong." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "To the police?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I am sure." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would think that any burglar could have done. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the King without delay." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I am following you closely," I answered. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several of fine shops and stately business premises that they really interests were the same as his." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of lost nothing by them." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Mary, has deserted me." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "To an English lawyer named Norton." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense third from London." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "The doctor?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "No." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "So I have heard." mystery!" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully morning." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and to Leatherhead. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of coroner's jury." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Pool. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "This photograph!" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "What is it?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies pressing in one house as in another. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his once more to my work. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic shall use the carriage to-night." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "'What then?' I asked. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." problems help me to do so." heavy and sharp instrument." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Yes, all." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the inner apartment." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Did you become engaged then?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a plantation.' as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Miss Holder?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else case before our client came into the room." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Mrs. Toller serenely. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. again before evening." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they ago." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, you?" father's place of business?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "And how did you verify them?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were girl said." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into trying to your nerves." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again since then to throw any light upon what became of him." peculiar to him. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Not particularly." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the matter?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "And leave your case unfinished?" to tell." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts than to us.