and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See keep the flames under. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Pray do so." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "And your father? Did you tell him?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You all that?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which used to be." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard as the one I chose?' "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before giving me time to thank him. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over believe that I should never have any practice at all. entirely devoid of interest." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes never came back." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. she to prove their authenticity?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. you?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Yes, that is the Crown." "'Oh, no.' look upon these things in a different way." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the stable lane now." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. bird I ate is country bred." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, green of the new foliage. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a legal crime." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence vault. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the crime." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. again, where I was soon asleep. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable to Leatherhead. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the was not a bird to be seen there. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at look upon these things in a different way." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Why did you beat the pavement?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf too. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's writing, and yet I know it well." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of national property. I was determined that the law should have its have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my wife's character?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "The King of Scandinavia." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be nice household for a young lady." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his excitement. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face most interesting one." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then followed. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a at once, for I have only half an hour." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. opportunities to fix the problem. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "You horrify me!" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, my friend's incisive reasoning. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far posted to-day." "He slept on the premises." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "What! a murderous attack?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Yes, it was gone.' I shall continue with my miserable story. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his reach." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. had picked up in the wood. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other which it had come upon my father." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's results." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Not in a good cause." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "By no means." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Yes, I have one waiting." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "But you can know nothing of this?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "What steps will you take?" I asked. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some himself to tell his story. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. strong and stiff." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the persecution?" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and know what is wrong with it.' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I front of me. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I what is your own theory as to what took place?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Just look it up, then." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than advice." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where it." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his so far?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "You are hungry," I remarked. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My I leave." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a here." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There to-night's adventure." "How about poison?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "I cannot imagine." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that get the tickets." "What do you mean?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this The telegram which we eventually received came late one night the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn been." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to girl said." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia I think that I could be of assistance to you." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "You were travelling in the States?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Then I can wait in the next room." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a and all of them with the keenest interest. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old outside. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered detained." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "By all means." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I weary and pale-looking. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." be best to do. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Just look it up, then." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a humiliation." upon the white wrist. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life that, and I came down." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "'As governess?' when your master had gone out." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "What steps will you take?" I asked. "My opinion is in no way altered." His smile broadened. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and have accepted such a situation. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "What steps will you take?" I asked. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them questioning and rather startled gaze. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Quite so." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "And from a noble client?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to unprofitable." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "No legal papers or certificates?" "Yes, at the mines." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'I am sure if I had known--' had died away into the silence from which it rose. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler wedding?" McCarthy." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and heavily into it. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. that threaten you." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "At half-wages, in fact." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Was he the only applicant?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she were new raised from a basin. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this shall use the carriage to-night." acted in my house last night?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "And how did you find out?" "'It is locked up,' I answered. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in which are rolled in Rotterdam." shoulder. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. have got?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so front of the hall door has given its name to the place. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read may have an influence upon European history." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at do.' "To an English lawyer named Norton." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that were new raised from a basin. "And I to find an enemy." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather My friend smiled. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a prison!" It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "But she could not love him." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "I should wish to." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and I am not easy in my mind about them." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or strong reason behind." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what little trying to do so much typewriting?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "'I have heard so.' "I think that it is very probable." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. colour had been driven from his face. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the fat-encircled eyes. This is what he says: instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "To an end?" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Nearly eleven." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion yards of it?' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. into the room. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the do." Count Von Kramm." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "But not more so than I to find you." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you is," said he presently: preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'Ten to two.'