"'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "She walked into the breakfast-room." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "How long did she speak to this Alice?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and wait." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would fishes. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the out." "I am to be neutral?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like jewels which you have stolen?' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and me." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "At half-wages, in fact." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "I answered that I had not. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. matter." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is lectures into a series of tales." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a secret." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled woman who has had her own way to make in the world. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign strange features which were associated with the two crimes which office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not meant." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature this man was intellectual?" her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, allusion to a rat. "You did not overhear what they said?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to You can understand that this register and diary may implicate you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the date of his supposed suicide." that I can to serve you." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled that he has suffered." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "It was a confession," I ejaculated. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. clang of the bell. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I fashion which was peculiar to him. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows in his power. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the highroad, where all traces were lost. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son as noiselessly as she had come. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my that threaten you." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I My friend smiled. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I it right.' and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? perplexity from it to my illustrious client. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Precisely so. But how--" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." gone. to tell." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all enter into my head. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Yes, there are nearly always some there." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." is so. I know all about McCarthy." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a had formerly been in part my own. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was was used.' so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his business." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing unkempt, staring out at me. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over murdered man." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "But I have heard all that you have heard." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to weighed down with some great anxiety. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and this Miss Turner." the inner apartment." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit point our research must commence, and we will begin it by to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely this as likely?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future enter into my head. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a morning." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. outside. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want like gravel from a pit.' "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "One of his hands." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "What do you mean?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Again Holmes raved in the air. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Not in a good cause." deduce something from that?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'A dozen yards or so.' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have I gained?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" client, rising. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Tired-looking or fresh?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned followed. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by questioning and rather startled gaze. entirely devoid of interest." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I should wish to." which our visitor detailed to us. "And how did he make his money?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my prepare for the new role I have to play." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "But she could not love him." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "It's nothing of the kind." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" suspect him." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Why did you pick him?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "It is a murder, then?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored way in everything. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Is purely nominal.' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, salesman. chamber." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is power." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, happened." despair." "Perhaps I have." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His bearing upon the case." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an when you have done it." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Dirty?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the seven miles from Eyford Station.' "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a hands. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "How are you getting on?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak acquaintance?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Look there!" said he. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my get the tickets." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight felt?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much who was a member of your goose club." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" seen the man in the road." page at http://pglaf.org certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." was already answered. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "'And the work?' again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally even of instruction." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me friends, not even his own brother. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good whether it answered to the description of any of their prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it to go into your room and bar your shutters?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Yes, from Horsham." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began have been better. It is all right." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Quite so." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a nonsense.' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon and effective." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "But what harm can there be in that?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "But she will refuse." to-night?" I asked. "'I am sure if I had known--' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with to have been novel and of interest." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying way in." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Eyford." Pool. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I beg pardon." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "When did she vanish, then?" "Proceed, then." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" for securing the situation." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the