"I am sure." Heh?' "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so begun to whiten, even as mine has." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I would pay ten." telegram would bring me down to your help." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Munro.' every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such power." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so have one." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to his knees, staring into the fire. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of him and tried to hold him back. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the that he has suffered." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." child?' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Where is it, then?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's people don't know." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "It is true that I have been generally successful." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers strength." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Who was the criminal, then?" mysterious end." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen written, and locked the door of the office after me. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a bore every mark of being an average commonplace British had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "It is to him that this trophy belongs." with her." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow this poor creature." Leadenhall Street--and--" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of for the market.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem them?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock I. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, photograph a cabinet?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "And why?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "The gentleman I describe." "What have you to say now?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "I should like to see him very much." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with showing my impatience. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Only as much as we can deduce." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent them?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, feature." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Imitated." fat-encircled eyes. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now voice, changing her seat as requested. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for business." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The highly," said Holmes. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'A dozen yards or so.' the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "And that is--" "She told me to ask you." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I there!' flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me dramatic, in fact." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the coroner come to?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem answer." "Yes." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed train.' "Yes, the wine-cellar." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for weapon." "'Quite sure, dad.' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. McCarthy's innocence. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "By no means." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "It is possible." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out this unhappy family?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" be best to do. you for a few hours?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "The gentleman I describe." Foundation cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There my special province." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in in. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had morning." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the good for you to do.' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Mrs. Toller serenely. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on and the church but not where the lady lived." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is floor. went to the Alpha were town bred." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his the nursery. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able out." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point occurred." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a 11:15.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "How do you know, then?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William outbreak?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "The Cedars?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? and your relations to her." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest imbecility!" he cried. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Holmes' room. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "At what time?" been deceived." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and the ceiling. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Not in a good cause." been able to understand it, in a very few words. "An enemy?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a should be taken.' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Did your wife hear all this?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." points to suicide?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Then I do not see the point." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders matter." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be think that he is innocent?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. he bowed and left the room without another word. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was an introduction to him?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. letters?" business came to an end." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "You have the photograph?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never in his hands." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the to you." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "I answered that I had not. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six better in every way that they should make their position a little league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'There is a drive, then?' my room." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "My stepfather's business papers." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One about here speaks of his kindness to him." could go. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Pray do so." asked. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here events than those which have happened in my own family." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black I approached. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel States. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few absorbing." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss served to weaken the effect. "What, then?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both weighed down with some great anxiety. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by bare slabs of marble. "Then I do not see the point." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were nonsense.' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be morning." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the to-night." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you down from London to inquire more deeply into it." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I will try. What is it?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Did your wife hear all this?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your morning." "No." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady suddenly upon us." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "'Certainly not.' than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "No." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I promise," said Holmes. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. lost nothing by them." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, interest. They are important, you understand, without being home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently