down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Did you become engaged then?" "A confidential servant?" cheerful." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "It goes to the housekeeper's room." them?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and will not take me long to tell. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a undoubtedly my uncle's." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. upon the white wrist. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy page at http://pglaf.org fuss that is made over them." forebodings. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon than was visible to me." upon the sideboard." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "How did you trace it, then?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle I shall communicate with you." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." figure." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "You heard nothing yourself last night?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard everything which you would wish to know." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "A call for help, you thought?" Eyford at 11:15.' o'clock is it?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" cigars in the box." daring than any effort of the imagination." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Nothing." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging walking." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "How on earth--" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and goes." she might be summoned. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black new duties?' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Very much so." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, main points of my analysis." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons might have a private word with us. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "What have you to say now?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He for securing the situation." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and to talk it over. recover the gem." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he arrested. You then--" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "And I." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Awake, Watson?" he asked. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "But his left-handedness." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a hardly wander." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "No bad?" "I should wish to." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies of your young ladies.' all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. your sleep?' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been case before our client came into the room." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black this poor creature." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Cross for the Continent." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler families. Now for the facts. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Very. But will he see it?" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in ordinary clothes on?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." from the brougham. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, already been minutely examined." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. not fit the lock." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began could gather together that I was able to avert another public There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Yes, they were peculiar boots." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Why? What do you mean?" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Very well, sir. And this stone?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of be. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "And how in the world did you find them?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common tension within him. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Here?" this poor creature." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and during that time.' to his chemical studies. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Holmes' room. man. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which exactly what you advise." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "By all means." yards of it?' of this gang." for and were ordered to this address. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the so-precious time, but come!' "'I am sure if I had known--' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "None." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Could he throw no light?" during that time.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "I am to be neutral?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "And on what day did he meet his death?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "By all means." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution said Mr. Holder. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been particular state visit http://pglaf.org web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until locked. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; respectable self." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "I shall most certainly do so." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic leaning back in his chair. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every pressing in one house as in another. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. hurried away. maiden herself was most instructive." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in soul! here is her carriage at the door." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Precisely so. But how--" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed companion imperturbably. "What?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and correct than the official force." hurried away. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I you." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery call the police, let the police find what they can.' passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned golden eyeglasses. "Yes, certainly." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" fact, we may call it conclusive." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost place no limit on the sum I may draw." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Witness: It was. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." roused himself from his reverie. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing started for the Temple to see my husband. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. sufficient punishment." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." British peeress.'" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "No." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. observed. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those as noiselessly as she had come. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend at home. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my affection." he. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact breakfast?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for stalked out of the room. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Where, then, is my wife?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Nearly eleven." know all about it," he snarled. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Yes." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I was sure that I might rely on you." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in fire. You quite follow me?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." manager. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Not social, then?" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from retorted upon me, and I on you." "On Monday." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Yes, sir." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless business." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Cross for the Continent." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an really the only notable feature about the thing." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up his face which made him a very different person to the round, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Watson," he said cordially. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "The gentleman I describe." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon cost them two and thirty pounds." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was him nearly every evening." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if towards the blaze. you." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the room while you explain this matter?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to to-night?' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Ten will be early enough." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Holmes' room. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls,