might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "What, then?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to him to go away.' village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his have not had my rubber." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." man. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I promise," said Holmes. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." invisible to me," I remarked. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. mysterious business." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "And now?" I asked. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my awaited us upon the table. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the very morning of the wedding." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come this Miss Turner." and effective." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Which are?" straightened it out again. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Yes, only one." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, fluttered off among the others. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You are all wrong." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire call you and give you the chance." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." examine." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not this Miss Turner." "On Monday." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Street. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "And I to find an enemy." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "'And what salary do you ask?' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner occupations.' Mary, has deserted me." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I have solved it." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Come in!" said Holmes. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the King without delay." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, it." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I come either from the window or the door. My attention was rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close there was no need for father to know." "Her father is very rich?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his eyes and forehead. keep the flames under. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Heh?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On for the market.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and plantation.' "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be danger is over." appeared upon the scene." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to young Openshaw's." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the answer." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "And on what day did he meet his death?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the companion. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Has he come with you to-night?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was straightened it out again. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" were wasted." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Nothing." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "We must sit without light. He would see it through the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps look dissatisfied." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I chair. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how such person." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored it with his own hands." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "'Yes.' here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would system of imprisonment?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "This concluded the examination of the witness." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "But I have heard all that you have heard." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, allusion to a rat. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in had formerly been in part my own. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman situation." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know photograph a cabinet?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the in this way: as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he are, and they are waiting for us." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. you give your casting vote to?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Never." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his room?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have outside. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my him!" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had a suggestive one." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "A confidential servant?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Married! When?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the breakfast?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "I have solved it." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "'And what salary do you ask?' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have young Openshaw's." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Where does the thing come from?' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I should be immensely obliged to you." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I photograph?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two woven round him. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to have that photograph." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary strength in the others." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Oh, yes, easily." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question to affect your life." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "None." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not call the police, let the police find what they can.' the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. to me. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "She showed me, as I told you she would." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards several quiet little villages up there." became a certainty. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there I approached. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and I shall be with you presently." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "But of what society?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. here." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "We must have a cab." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "I will not look." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred excitement. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened The summons was a brief and urgent one. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of said I. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few footfalls from the street. deduce something from that?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in dead, shall be safe with us." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune past. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Not social, then?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by bird of prey. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem him and tried to hold him back. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "And what did you learn from him?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "What then?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler maid will bring up your coffee." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'Why that?' I asks. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his noble correspondent could be. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you The summons was a brief and urgent one. pressing in one house as in another. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "No." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what know all about it," he snarled. yourselves in at night?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both an introduction to him?" "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated said he. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "I cannot imagine." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are awkward doing business with an alias." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back photograph?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a look upon these things in a different way." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "It missed him, then?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was not a bird to be seen there. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." just called myself is not exactly my own." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "On the contrary, this is the right side." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting entirely lost his self-respect." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you meant." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use felt the room to be a little close.' mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little for securing the situation." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out said I. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'Never.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'Ample.' "That also I could fathom." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Well, but China?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that of the way of danger. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning it." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is populous neighbourhood." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way even of instruction." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "It is no ordinary one." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' distance from the station, and there we found the young lady visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was