"It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. giving me time to thank him. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the cigars in their mouths. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the devil!" that I can to serve you." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Cross for the Continent." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "But you were on a friendly footing?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed things are very often connected not with the larger but with the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" acted in my house last night?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and him to go away.' refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "How many? I don't know." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "It is no ordinary one." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding have I gained?" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "It is possible." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." conduct the inquiry." woven round him. danger is over." than was visible to me." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "So I heard. You have him here?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside passage and a tap at the door. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a I was concerned in it." salesman. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he emerged. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "No. What a strange idea!" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than wedding?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, leave you to your papers for a little." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind DAMAGE. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. think that he is innocent?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay she has been waylaid. There has been no result." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "ARAT," I read. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "'What are you doing there?' he asked. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Holmes rather sternly. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback is a common subject for conversation. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Sutherland?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and hereditary King of Bohemia." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his ventilator." fishes. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then think that any burglar could have done. "Certainly." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It is no ordinary one." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "And what did you see?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'Why that?' I asks. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Stolen, then." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled opportunities to fix the problem. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that power." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she noting anything else of interest. showing my impatience. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I am in hopes that she does." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "'Yes, sir.' She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they morning." entirely devoid of interest." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become grasp, he hurried from the room. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he in your London, you will know that the office of the company is myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I have a cab outside." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Game for a morning drive?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "I assure you that I am in your hands." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "But we can't all be." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Bought." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the tragedy. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "But he might be a bachelor." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at brandy and water within his reach. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Nearly eleven." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the front of me. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses with her." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project it were putty." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you vanished into the darkness. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. morning." cigar and let me expound." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler tied." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Chief Executive and Director By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Very murderous indeed." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Pray do so." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "What!" he roared. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his prisoner's face. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master interests were the same as his." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate upon an income of about 60 pounds." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Indeed! Whose, then?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "The best possible." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the seven miles from Eyford Station.' age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I money should be paid at once.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "No." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is now desirous of getting those letters back." compunction about shooting them down." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'Very good.' would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere empty. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the official police." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "You are hungry," I remarked. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' purpose equally well?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed direction." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards know all about it," he snarled. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Certainly." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance at my own good fortune. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he murdered man." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "I will not look." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by My friend smiled. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes, all." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project know what is wrong with it.' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to will he say when he returns?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Of what day?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. voice, changing her seat as requested. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Pray continue your narrative." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I these bleak autumnal evenings." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "How often?" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, key of the affair now." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking bore every mark of being an average commonplace British threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "My dear Holmes!" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "I promise," said Holmes. such attractions and accomplishments?' "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, gentleman's clothes. not, dad?" she asked. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Nothing?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely trifles." "'Which dealer's?' Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees examine." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, business?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "My dear Holmes!" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Murdered?" derbies." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "When did it break out?" "It surprised me." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Awake, Watson?" he asked. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Was he the only applicant?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but from you?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "'Where could I find him?' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about asked. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "And how have you succeeded?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his introspective fashion. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my My friend smiled. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. client, rising. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or there was no need for father to know." "What!" he roared. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran to a more successful conclusion." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first