"I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "'What would be the hours?' I asked. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the residence of the great financier. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' gives a meaning to it." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." hour." thirty. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with distance from the station, and there we found the young lady town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "I cannot say that I have." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in cause to be." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Yes." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' occurred." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw I am not easy in my mind about them." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in note?" "I shall most certainly do so." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little knowledge of the world." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'And the work?' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I was mad--insane." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property meant." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the a suggestive one." "An enemy?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I cannot imagine." made his money." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "'It is locked up,' I answered. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It is no ordinary one." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just think that he is innocent?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the so.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in heavy and sharp instrument." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a to his chemical studies. any little problem which you may submit to me." assist you in forming an opinion." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. for its centre. detained." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He secret." I held the little printed slip to the light. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "And help." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY as the one I chose?' retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful geese which you supplied to the Alpha." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked which should have the effect of calling the attention of the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of You want to know what became of those geese?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. union?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I will get her to show me." in him." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, in this way: Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to prison!" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps bled considerably." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and gigantic client. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His bed dies. Does not that strike you?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "He slept on the premises." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, before the coroner and the police-court." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Then how many are there?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. security.' strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would might have a private word with us. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you of the efforts of the United States government and of the better my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his such attractions and accomplishments?' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler secret." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, persecution?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "I shall be delighted." learned something! Where are the gems?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his is a common subject for conversation. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Mary, has deserted me." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination you?' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the stable lane now." my little problems." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per as he remarks, very much against the son." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should this unhappy family?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You gone. has little to do with my story." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here have got?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was direction." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Yes, it was twisted." "'Quite sure, dad.' to a light-house. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I His name is Francis Prosper." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble McCarthy." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while place of silver." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his new acquaintance to Baker Street. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a is," said he presently: even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes, it would be as well." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but bearing upon the case." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to must be when I saw the door open.' answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "It is very clear." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," meanly of me." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "And Miss Sutherland?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'And the work?' "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up it? Did I buy the geese off you?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. on in his house." the side-table." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, to-night." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already again on its way. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are ourselves in the office." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the your bag." "Texas, I think." tension within him. the little opening for the ventilator is." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to families. Now for the facts. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "It must be recovered." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "No. What a strange idea!" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'I am sure if I had known--' endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "And how have you succeeded?" minor matters until to-morrow." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I am still in the dark." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and breakfast." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office fact, we may call it conclusive." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very a little more before I quite committed myself. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness gone before you can get him to hospital." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You know me, then?" you understand?" went to the Alpha were town bred." behind me. even so self-evident a thing as that." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "My Mary? Impossible!" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then not use it unless it is absolutely needed." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the himself. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now night.' said he. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Literary Archive Foundation it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away people don't know." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Mary, has deserted me." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "When did she vanish, then?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. empty. "'Where could I find him?' layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works round with crates and massive boxes. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments soul! here is her carriage at the door." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the loss of it. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "You have a clue?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'What would be the hours?' I asked. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and unprofitable." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' use an arc-and-compass breastpin." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as