brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the warnings." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone when you have done it." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So breakfast?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Could he throw no light?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was works. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. narrative." relief. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Precisely." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Henry Baker is a member." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second me." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt silent! Oh, he will be silent!' laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went key turn in the lock." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend vault. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away room?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of the vacancies.' he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "She told me to ask you." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Yes, I have one waiting." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" think that any burglar could have done. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I am still in the dark." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but it." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name washing it down with a long draught of water. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already floor. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our kindly on the shoulder. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." what do you think they found in the pockets?" it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "But you can know nothing of this?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." went to the Alpha were town bred." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that entirely lost his self-respect." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Did you become engaged then?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a husband's writing, madam." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the so-precious time, but come!' "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet unprecedented a position." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a together. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest tassel actually lying upon the pillow. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just would apply.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "And is that all?" "Yes, it would be as well." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I say that I have solved it." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to that open window." "Of what day?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "I cannot imagine." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend I was concerned in it." knowledge of the world." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave eat it." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," bare slabs of marble. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and hard-headed British jury." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Game for a morning drive?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of made him keep the appointment." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his events than those which have happened in my own family." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, good-night and bustled off upon her way. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously for its centre. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Yes, sir." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the morning." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "I cannot say that I have." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an me." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see skylight. "Ten will be early enough." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he as he folded up the epistle. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Did you become engaged then?" fluttered off among the others. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds writing, and yet I know it well." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard silent! Oh, he will be silent!' doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "And I say east," said my patient. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very overpowering excitement and concern. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in taking in every detail of the apartment. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my danger is over." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "What I expected to see." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you flock.' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is towards the blaze. "Whose house is it?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, of the way of danger. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project round with crates and massive boxes. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would humiliation." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in people don't know." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to guilty parties." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "You have a clue?" depend upon my doing so.' open." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the so.' on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared him, that man would not have given me such complete information nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "'How far from the body?' showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Have you good authority for what you say?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An comes from the middle window." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "You'll never persuade me to believe that." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Yes. He waved his hands." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has yet." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided a few minutes he said that it would be all right. him. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate words came to my lips. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for back to my heart. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken crackling voice. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "But what will you do?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then anything to do with the matter?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not for securing the situation." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my this poor creature." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would breakfast and whispered something to her husband. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination then?" you do it in twenty minutes!' glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "When did it break out?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Lee, in the county of Kent." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." might help us?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a way: "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "That is unusual in a young girl." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my key of the affair now." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to change my dress. "Bought." fishes. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she lumber-room." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your spark where all is dark to me." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered electronic works my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Holmes' room. "Yes, the wine-cellar." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the tell me that you intended to go into harness." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "My last client of the sort was a king." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Now, then, what's the last entry?" to-night?' "Quite so." the salesman. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which could not account in any way for the presence of the missing panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "'Yes, sir.' why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern bare slabs of marble. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go gentleman's clothes. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to discontent upon his features. seem to you to be relevant or not." any." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." for its centre. Clair, of Lee." stammered. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was direction." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the depend upon your compliance." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I so far?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "How on earth--" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "But she could not love him." "Not in the least." danger is over." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into have not had my rubber." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Was the window open?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had said he. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "It is solved." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this see a sister of mine apply for." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have nonsense.' customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for