day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight and prosperity to your house. Good-night." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting this remarkable episode. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I cannot imagine." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet standing smiling on the door-step. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your cause to be." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss vault. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Have you good authority for what you say?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, plantation.' providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. in this way: subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and fuss that is made over them." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in suggested at once that there must be a communication between the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a eat it." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I cannot say that I have." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him knowledge of the world." article?" opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk one of them." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" gives a meaning to it." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to where she found matters as described by the last witness. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can it." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Not social, then?" "Certainly." tail." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. outside." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "And Irene Adler?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in works. See paragraph 1.E below. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I am still in the dark." whether it answered to the description of any of their "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me McCarthy." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if from the brougham. confronted him. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the very morning of the wedding." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), noble correspondent could be. "Pray let us have it, for all that." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which James Windibank. Voilà tout!" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "This photograph!" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of neither fascinating nor artistic." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All hour." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate passage and a tap at the door. is so. I know all about McCarthy." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would enter into my head. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I answered that I had not. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as her also." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful certainly do as you advise." fatally injured? "'Certainly not. But why?' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands tassel actually lying upon the pillow. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Pope's Court. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." charge against him will break down." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel some terrible trap for her." hour?' "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Where is it, then?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the date of his supposed suicide." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the respectable self." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a interests were the same as his." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the night.' he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "That is not always so easy." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Were they all fastened this morning?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "What, then?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous paper in the air. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Where to?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business my secret was safe in his possession. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. letters?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the side-table." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the only touch the interest." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that plantation.' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I shall be delighted." you." way in everything. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." had picked up in the wood. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. existence." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Two days later this same performance was gone through under The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had highroad, where all traces were lost. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out to go into your room and bar your shutters?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Not yet." Holmes' thin, eager face. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "It is a murder, then?" enter into my head. have had none more fantastic than this." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Upon what point?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles for securing the situation." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am redistribution. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Frequently." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" do." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "'Yes, sir.' absorbing." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I article?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then deduce something from that?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with her." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'And the work?' States. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is once more on the important position which you have been fortunate points in connection with it which never have been, and probably thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by seen the man in the road." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "No, thank goodness, she did not." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "What, then, did Peterson do?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I should be immensely obliged to you." "How about poison?" that he will be back before evening." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the driver. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," call it cruel." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I see no marks." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is of." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, little trying to do so much typewriting?" keep the flames under. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any for securing the situation." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Well?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'Then let me do so?' years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his back alive. Have you good authority for what you say?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings amused." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair asked. writer." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can him. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning presume?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor straighten it?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." felt the room to be a little close.' and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the running down." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, disappearance of these gems?" so.' the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third him to go away.' best detective that ever lived. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." wanted for ourselves." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the south-west, I see." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards crime. "My private note-paper." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. into the room. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell not personally threatened." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, door?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "It is a murder, then?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Won't it ring?" been deceived." "I have hopes." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Did your wife hear all this?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "We must sit without light. He would see it through the fait accompli?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Very. But will he see it?" the child." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would shall not find me ungrateful." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" speckled band?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, hurried away. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's