have got?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Pray continue your narrative." or other trace. But how on earth--" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab to his chemical studies. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did waste of energy." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and lamp in his hand. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as made him keep the appointment." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is this Miss Turner." himself. mysterious business." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the bill, which interests me deeply." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Pray continue your narrative." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Yes." "How often?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'And what salary do you ask?' have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated to take care of herself." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, is so. I know all about McCarthy." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, charge against him will break down." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of kind enough to tell me what I should do." "And how?" quite distinctive." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." and capable of preserving a secret.' "How on earth--" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some redistribution. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "It looks newer than the other things?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the populous neighbourhood." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. as the one I chose?' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and your relations to her." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room excitement. "Your presence might be invaluable." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, events, Mr. Windibank!" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine were unconscious?" "A client, then?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would to-night?' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a writers could invent nothing more crude." "Get out!" said he. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the King without delay." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." that you saw all that I did." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall been deceived." see me here to avoid scandal." Sutherland. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "He disappeared so suddenly." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. question. "10th. John Swain cleared. of it with the greatest attention. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman out." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, strode off upon his way. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now way in." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "'Yes, sir.' highly," said Holmes. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the we went to search for him, face downward in a little would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Can I be of assistance?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his get the tickets." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. be sorry for having acted so harshly." it. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, papers diligently of late, have you not?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "If so, much may have happened between." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box notes," he said. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "The decline of his fortunes, then?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive cause to be." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is wedding?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Was there a secret marriage?" footfalls from the street. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "But his left-handedness." nonsense.' "What do you mean?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the joking. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "That's no good." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Where does the thing come from?' a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "At the wedding breakfast." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the companion imperturbably. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Yes." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first cheerful." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "What then?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of quickly through a disagreeable task. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was fluttered off among the others. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put business matters.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their in him." carriage. It was a chestnut." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "And what did you learn from him?" them?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he copied or distributed: finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and there!' is now desirous of getting those letters back." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for presented which may be striking and bizarre without being strong reason behind." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to beg that you will break it off." unclasping of his long thin hands. States. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may any." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in for the market.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "But the mystery?" waste of energy." "That is possible." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Then I shall certainly come." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my humiliation." murdered man." Countess of Morcar's?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "You will not go there first?" "'Most admirably.' blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each lips." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition not come at once?" effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his people in all walks of life. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" one of them." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary manager. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Not particularly." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my beyond words. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was him nearly every evening." and it need not interfere very much with one's other 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in what these perils are?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "But you were on a friendly footing?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she late!' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out was it brought him the coronet? footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon business at Coburg Square is serious." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my thought that she would have been so carried away." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "No. What a strange idea!" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting quite distinctive." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I know where it is." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing I shall continue with my miserable story. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." helping a boy to put up the shutters. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "That is it on the dressing-table." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "'Never.' ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Gutenberg-tm License. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help if only as a check to my own memory." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I answered that I had not. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove exactly what you advise." "My private note-paper." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he fattened it expressly for you.' I am not easy in my mind about them." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the coroner come to?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the which was all perfectly true. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Pray tell us what has happened to you." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, said Mr. Holder. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" wanted for ourselves." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Then the page we have seen--" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently touch that coronet?' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he your own bird, so if you wish--" Doctor, of the paper and the date." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the photograph a cabinet?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be some water from a caraffe. works. See paragraph 1.E below. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project gone before you can get him to hospital." could go. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the in darkness. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" ashen face. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. new duties?' "What can you not understand?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "And did you observe any change in her then?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a meant." "No bad?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note,