"My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that drawing your inferences." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," visitors." "Has he come with you to-night?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "But who is he?" "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere unkempt, staring out at me. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, believe that I should never have any practice at all. tail." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You ceremony." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Sholtos." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. crime. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in putting in the horse. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, case-book, which he consulted. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Eyford at 11:15.' "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "It looks newer than the other things?" companion. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was a member of your goose club." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. to arrive at through this?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which narrative." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some But Holmes shook his head gravely. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "A thing like a cleaver," said he. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another like that before?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle paper in the air. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause father's young wife. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you were wasted." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be into the room. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Then you may entirely rely on me." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small tapping his fingers upon the table. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to Leatherhead. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and your relations to her." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I shall continue with my miserable story. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It will not take me long to tell. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that locked. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the house with me." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 she has been waylaid. There has been no result." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but face and glided from the room. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the nursery. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite swore that no one else had been in the front room during the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Perhaps I have." knowledge of the world." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door quickly through a disagreeable task. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is a good hundred miles off by now." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was have one." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Pray do so." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I have a cab outside." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Well?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in relief. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Stoke Moran." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have I shall continue with my miserable story. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Will you go?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet said he. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to derbies." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "To the police?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, mystery." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. of it with the greatest attention. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "It is solved." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what them?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Yes." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Pope's Court. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two yet." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and there in twenty minutes." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "The murder was done with it." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "How on earth--" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his sentimental considerations in the background which would induce back into the street. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Holmes rather sternly. matter." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Nothing?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six think that he is innocent?" meant." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the Red-headed League." that were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I showing my impatience. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found read it out to me." six. Come in!" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for them present such singular features as the strange train of wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. prison!" works. See paragraph 1.E below. what I may call a really hard day's work." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious during that time.' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be back into the street. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to anything to do with the matter?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "But not more so than I to find you." if only as a check to my own memory." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: towards the blaze. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man there." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good residence of the great financier. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to Leatherhead. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." despaired of." "Nothing." in darkness. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "No sign of it?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Bought." kind enough to tell me what I should do." head. So long, then!" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "No, I had a dozen." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and wife's character?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Well." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The she to prove their authenticity?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his official police." lumber-room." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had could not have written that. It is the German who is so which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you I took the paper from him and read as follows: while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the 1.E.9. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for is entirely a question of barometric pressure." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the him, that man would not have given me such complete information "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the running down." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, present." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Very truly yours, learned something! Where are the gems?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was neither fascinating nor artistic." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we to talk it over. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the was keenly on my guard against him. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Well?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Why serious?" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let than was visible to me." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold bearing upon the case." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Yes?" "Her father is very rich?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Not in the least." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened for the market.' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer villagers almost as much as their master. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Stoke Moran." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "No?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "It surprised me." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural call for protection in the marriage market, for the present client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "What will you do, then?" locked. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "And sit in the dark?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were them present such singular features as the strange train of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll during which he might have communicated with his friend the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close London for the present?" ourselves in the office." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been