suddenly upon us." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching ventilator." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Do you go out much in society?" your Highness to the police-station?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "No, I am descending." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, that he has suffered." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Why serious?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside what do you think they found in the pockets?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or shaken than I had ever seen him. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'What then?' I asked. meant." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "How did you deduce the select?" "And how have you succeeded?" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "My dear Holmes!" where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "He disappeared so suddenly." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but companion imperturbably. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his nights." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems lips." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but some mystery and the punishment of some crime." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." floor. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of be.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." strength." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have other, as fresh and trim as possible. Where does the thing come from?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "No good news?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the been able to understand it, in a very few words. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked instincts rose up against that laugh. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not correct than the official force." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Not particularly." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "No legal papers or certificates?" our word." "So I am. Very much so." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my him." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." purpose of examination. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "They are typewritten," I remarked. "But you were on a friendly footing?" brandy and water within his reach. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "You heard nothing yourself last night?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Literary Archive Foundation nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they from the brougham. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' she used." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to here and I will read it to you: politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied so.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the corner of the building. wedding?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Very much so." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and as yours." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" such attractions and accomplishments?' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes power." suspect him." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Ha! you find it so?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "And for present expenses?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Why serious?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, with you alone." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and DISSOLVED. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that will not take me long to tell. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to envelope. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought eat it." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly maid will bring up your coffee." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could should be so warm over such a trifle." "How do you know, then?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something be best to do. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the room while you explain this matter?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "I cannot as yet see any connection." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached them present such singular features as the strange train of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I beg pardon." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, of the way of danger. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he have established a very serious case against the son of the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE depend upon your compliance." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to beg that you will break it off." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham cigars in the box." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it had formerly been in part my own. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and compunction about shooting them down." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper touch that coronet?' that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I guessed as much." "I will not look." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to begun to whiten, even as mine has." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the stable lane now." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall will be renamed. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "The knees of his trousers." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Yes." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the loss of it. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Nothing." the bed, and you in that chair." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' obstinate." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a lost nothing by them." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain him. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Eyford at 11:15.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise wife's character?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, strong and stiff." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Nothing." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "How do you know, then?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've colonel looking down at me. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "He said that you could solve anything." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "And leave your case unfinished?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, his eyes and forehead. golden eyeglasses. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black place of silver." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his presented more singular features than that which was associated "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to morning." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. details." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may footfalls from the street. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred not, dad?" she asked. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, the station." guilty one." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and events, Mr. Windibank!" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on despair." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the one of them." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, business." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a which it had come upon my father." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I have my revolver," said I. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that charge against him will break down." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "They are typewritten," I remarked. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said noble correspondent could be. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to was a loud and authoritative tap. the so-precious time, but come!' "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Look there!" said he. "She will not sell." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not pound a week." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous what I may call a really hard day's work." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "And why in hopes?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without you came in." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were forbidden door. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of my little problems." "The Cedars?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, locked." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, carriage. It was a chestnut." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the http://www.gutenberg.net all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "No more words. Get out!" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of friends, not even his own brother. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I in him." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew there were one or two details which were new to me. But the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the