dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not instituted." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the you." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in chill to my heart. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. me upon any point which I do not make clear." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "The murder was done with it." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and photograph?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case him and tried to hold him back. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. address. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Where to?" "Your presence might be invaluable." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his in this note: shaken than I had ever seen him. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "You have a clue?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. been shamefully used." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you thought that she would have been so carried away." "To ruin me." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had point in the dark hollow of his hand. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I charge against him will break down." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she that he has suffered." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's your Highness to the police-station?" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "That is possible." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, true." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that once more for Briony Lodge. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." the date of his supposed suicide." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door was keenly on my guard against him. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar bearing upon the case." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "The gentleman I describe." "'You cannot say what it was?' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if his forehead." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your comes from the middle window." answered with a sidelong glance. annoyance, but no jest. leaning back in his chair. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "What shall I do?" "'Certainly not. But why?' with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he about here speaks of his kindness to him." "There is the writing." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Certainly." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The vanishing of the lady." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to thought that she would have been so carried away." desk. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "'I have already given you my word.' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in face and glided from the room. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in was feeling which was the fattest.' jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated of." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I guessed as much." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I say that I have solved it." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the you understand?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. golden eyeglasses. "You forget that I know nothing about it." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less know all about it," he snarled. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Ah!" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a himself to hunt down. this unhappy family?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for was keenly on my guard against him. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Pray continue your narrative." all?" "You were travelling in the States?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and derbies." of campaign. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the waste of energy." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have It may be so in this case, also." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "He slept on the premises." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Never." "An enemy?" developed." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Count Von Kramm." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Was the window open?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "An accident, I presume?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "How did you deduce the select?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary tassel actually lying upon the pillow. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "How did he come?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'Certainly not. But why?' "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into started for the Temple to see my husband. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and already referred to. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? go from here to the Strand." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Quite so. She has her freedom." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for to me. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable clang of the bell. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl his forehead." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to gives a meaning to it." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" sufficient punishment." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman to have that photograph." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." said I. It may be so in this case, also." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "How many? I don't know." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'Is purely nominal.' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. your own bird, so if you wish--" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I have a cab outside." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens strong and stiff." delighted to hear it," he said. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear in. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, any little problem which you may submit to me." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a to have that photograph." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Chief Executive and Director ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all miles off. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "That is easily got." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Cross for the Continent." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a seven miles from Eyford Station.' "I cannot think." "Yes, he did." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a distance from the station, and there we found the young lady papers diligently of late, have you not?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the so-precious time, but come!' side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I don't believe it." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to memory. to arrive at through this?" with the outside air!" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Then, how do you know?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could present." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Perhaps I have." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, I shall continue with my miserable story. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Pray be precise as to details," said he. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will which are rolled in Rotterdam." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "But his left-handedness." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, acquaintance?" "Well, but China?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Clair, of Lee." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I see many objections to any such theory." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he advice." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, generous with you in money matters.' the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit derbies." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Very truly yours, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read said Mr. Holder. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'You cannot say what it was?' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered point our research must commence, and we will begin it by shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit answered with a sidelong glance. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done mystery." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as ways including including checks, online payments and credit card three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out there!' to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of case-book, which he consulted. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch brain must have something in it." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Then you may be so with me." "Certainly." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when was feeling which was the fattest.' Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and seven miles from Eyford Station.' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the any little problem which you may submit to me." never to learn it at all." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "We were both in the photograph." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked to-night?' relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door