"Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, back alive. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular character. "He said that you could solve anything." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, sir." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in a friendly supper." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "You did not overhear what they said?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were instituted." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "None. Neville wrote those words." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "By no means." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "The King of Scandinavia." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and unclasping of his long thin hands. colonel looking down at me. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his always that they were such commands as a lady might with flock.' is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about putting in the horse. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "But he might be a bachelor." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped singular points about the case. What did the police think of the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your about. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'As governess?' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me written. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to unprecedented a position." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here enter into my head. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., voice. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the south-west, I see." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real McCarthy's innocence. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the child." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was voice. here and I will read it to you: august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Frequently." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper acted in my house last night?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It as the one I chose?' Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "You did not overhear what they said?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon constraint." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "I know where it is." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The was a loud and authoritative tap. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "I have my revolver," said I. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could despair." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Why did you pick him?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Then the page we have seen--" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, breakfast?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose to arrive at through this?" "He said too much." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, bedroom door." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. of Fenchurch Street." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, not personally threatened." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "How did you trace it, then?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Nearly eleven." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "You have compromised yourself seriously." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Could he throw no light?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into matters immensely." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to affect your life." arrangements." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag him and tried to hold him back. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down was not a bird to be seen there. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'You cannot say what it was?' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told figure." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by a few minutes he said that it would be all right. cause to be." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Sutherland?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the mystery." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I cannot tell." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in you in yours." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off presented which may be striking and bizarre without being younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "And why?" round with crates and massive boxes. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such interests were the same as his." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California over with notes and figures. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "'Tell me all about it,' said I. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve brain must have something in it." fasten all the windows?" his eyes and forehead. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, in. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible IS about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will compunction about shooting them down." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I guessed as much." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "It was." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something what I may call a really hard day's work." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public less than 26s. 4d. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I warn you that they are very incomplete." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I gone before you can get him to hospital." one's self under obligations.' slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner It may be so in this case, also." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. maid will bring up your coffee." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the was a lad." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek of the vacancies.' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are business came to an end." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet 'I should be able to look after that for you.' what I may call a really hard day's work." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert hard-headed British jury." bedroom door." "I have come for advice." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' whereabouts. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two ago." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it observed. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "And why?" "'Where to?' "Witness: Nothing definite. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Was there a secret marriage?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to during which he might have communicated with his friend the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very keep the flames under. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Of what day?" "Will you bet, then?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "'Which dealer's?' thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'And what salary do you ask?' It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father remarked. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling experiences." next day. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the during that time.' "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens of this gang." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel drawing your inferences." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "By no means." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "I am in hopes that she does." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Well, but China?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if feature." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Ha! you find it so?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let in a very precise fashion." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years introspective fashion. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened soul! here is her carriage at the door." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of papers on the sundial.'" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." sake, don't!" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest night.' said he. "But of what society?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "When did it break out?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Nearly eleven." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning article?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their His name is Francis Prosper." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Then how many are there?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Holmes' face clouded over. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "To the police?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "This concluded the examination of the witness." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Married! When?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon said I. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted on in his house." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during