to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Imitated." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' there when the Rucastles went away." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Clair, of Lee." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "'Is purely nominal.' my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than hopeless attempt at recovering them." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a her also." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. my former friend and companion. "Yes, only one." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Precisely." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Ah!" you, my dear young lady?' grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Why, it's a dummy," said he. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you in one or two places in England?' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with sparkled upon his finger. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there people in all walks of life. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been an introduction to him?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to spark where all is dark to me." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your your only hope of safety." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while forbidden door. dead, shall be safe with us." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The nonsense.' "That is it on the dressing-table." "Get out!" said he. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Were they all fastened this morning?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And Irene Adler?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice was keenly on my guard against him. outbreak?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'Certainly,' I answered. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest fuss that is made over them." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction husband's writing, madam." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove his wife has ceased to love him." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' as this. Pray let me have the details." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Nothing?" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when this poor creature." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" your equipment. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "No legal papers or certificates?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into hair?' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns fuss that is made over them." morning." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "That also I could fathom." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "And did you observe any change in her then?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; what I may call a really hard day's work." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I shoulder. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but narrative." dear old homesteads?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding examine." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Was your sister dressed?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting status with the IRS. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "And how have you succeeded?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it head. So long, then!" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these pictures, libraries, or plate. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to swore that no one else had been in the front room during the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would into the room. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "I am to be neutral?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "But I have heard all that you have heard." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes pressing in one house as in another. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are will find little credit to be gained out of this case." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, chair. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he habit of advancing money.' sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I am all attention, madam." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' neither fascinating nor artistic." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There already referred to. "Whose house is it?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Certainly not.' it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "What have you done?" asked Holmes. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear your only hope of safety." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be writer." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so States. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that cigars in their mouths. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." was keenly on my guard against him. had picked up in the wood. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property dates and names. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might evidence," I remarked. "So it appears." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had plantation.' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the not, dad?" she asked. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his chance at all." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "She will not sell." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your ceremony." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable whole matter to your consideration." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and redistribution. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such to some other building. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "So I am. Very much so." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or but preventing her from injuring another. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." system of imprisonment?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have a very grave face. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, you for a few hours?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me said Mr. Holder. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Munro.' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my some place of shelter and let the county police know what has might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "The decline of his fortunes, then?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into said he. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" any more." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I am still in the dark." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "And your father? Did you tell him?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I it with his own hands." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to prisoner's face. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage formed some opinion?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "And now?" I asked. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "How about poison?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying fear." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "No." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "And I say east," said my patient. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." heavy and sharp instrument." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "It is solved." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "'What then?' I asked. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from giving me time to thank him. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in were new raised from a basin. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "To ruin me." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' both be extremely obliged.' together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt bears upon the case?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but future lives." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off London for the present?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, II. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "You have carte blanche." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" unkempt, staring out at me. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and less than 26s. 4d. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Where is it, then?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was meant it for the best. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person six. Come in!" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the gentleman's clothes. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right His name is Francis Prosper." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with 1.E.9. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it The note was undated, and without either signature or address.