long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, problems help me to do so." Where does the thing come from?' There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "How did he come?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it character. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch bears upon the case?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. acquaintance?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and as he folded up the epistle. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'A dozen yards or so.' The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my than was visible to me." a good hundred miles off by now." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a several quiet little villages up there." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Can I be of assistance?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or skylight. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Absolutely?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "In San Francisco, a year ago." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was him, that man would not have given me such complete information left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you handed it to him. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, The King stared at him in amazement. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She sound at heart." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began The events in question occurred in the early days of my open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite morning." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "No." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "'Certainly,' I answered. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, goes." and looked back. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" presented which may be striking and bizarre without being after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a happened." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became one else, I think." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I written, and locked the door of the office after me. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own with some details as to your case." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes foot. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "He said too much." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set here." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced chance at all." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder at my own good fortune. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, standing smiling on the door-step. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in and all of them with the keenest interest. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the six. Come in!" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Then let me do so?' Farm upon the left." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Holmes' face clouded over. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the ceiling. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ready to-morrow?' company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Well, but China?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Yes?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "And for present expenses?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "But not more so than I to find you." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards begin with, and I had not got mine yet." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." rooms." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "But it has twice been burgled." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I envelope. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of danger is over." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of will he say when he returns?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I call the police, let the police find what they can.' He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "And why?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." and glanced through. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of extraordinary contortions. me have 200 pounds?' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch promised to bring home. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention congratulate you again." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "No, finished." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' case before our client came into the room." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which bell. Holmes whistled. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "VIOLET HUNTER." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, any little problem which you may submit to me." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too opened the door, and slipped through. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and fuss that is made over them." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I shall most certainly do so." was a lad." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for goes." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes that I may have something better before very many minutes are however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Yes, only one." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "And you don't know his address?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense which should have the effect of calling the attention of the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "No, my brougham is waiting." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to and it need not interfere very much with one's other "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. business came to an end." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. writing, and yet I know it well." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock papers diligently of late, have you not?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to papers on the sundial.'" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Yes, that is the Crown." stood on the top of it. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." intrusion of other matters." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always the salesman. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Street. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this 'please.'" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, an introduction to him?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' vault. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink thin, with a long, sharp nose?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the all?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I warn you that they are very incomplete." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so stepfather?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Pray let us have it, for all that." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the him and tried to hold him back. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be round with crates and massive boxes. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a call you and give you the chance." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "I cannot imagine." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, at once, for I have only half an hour." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Will you bet, then?" me. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Did you observe the colour?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Yes." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At gone before you can get him to hospital." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it companion. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper following enigmatical notices: lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the so-precious time, but come!' success. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with pierced for earrings?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty telegram would bring me down to your help." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both key of the affair now." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Not social, then?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and knowledge of the world." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, The events in question occurred in the early days of my living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while you?' pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. coroner's jury." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "What I expected to see." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether lost his Christmas dinner." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and friend's singular character. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in works. See paragraph 1.E below. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the general public were present, then?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered envelope. you for a few hours?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'And the work?' ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back he died? family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Will you go?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair the general public were present, then?" has little to do with my story." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Foundation "Yes, it was twisted." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself."