"There isn't a cat in it, for example?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "And it is--" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." attention." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in nothing of it?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I came to find a friend." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between in his power. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was it brought him the coronet? I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark just called myself is not exactly my own." "To an end?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I will get her to show me." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "On the contrary, this is the right side." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no room?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "There is the writing." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the direction." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "But I am all in the dark." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the all?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Holmes. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly certainly not very gracious." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the voice, changing her seat as requested. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced disappearance of these gems?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "But it has twice been burgled." careless servant girl?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been depend upon your compliance." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom crowd. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "I will do it." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with his face which made him a very different person to the round, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the hand, madam?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the approach us with offers to donate. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "But what will you do?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "None. Neville wrote those words." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "What steps will you take?" I asked. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a nights." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. husband's writing, madam." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite them?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my arrangements." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower The events in question occurred in the early days of my "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in here." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave for and were ordered to this address. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "I am sure." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "My stepfather's business papers." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very tell me that you intended to go into harness." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "From his hat?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the his face which made him a very different person to the round, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "He disappeared so suddenly." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the bedroom door." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He would then never go into court at all." tightly behind him. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, to tell." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "In heaven's name, what for?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post conceal it?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Perhaps I have." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any indeed which he could not unravel. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And done what I asked you, Jones?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he stammered. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the tragedy. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. suddenly upon us." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "A greater distance to travel." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "You forget that I know nothing about it." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "By train from Waterloo." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "No." I leave." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Murdered?" that you wished to speak to me?' outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Do you go out much in society?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "At half-wages, in fact." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves existence." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "At what time?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "None." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'Where to?' States. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here strange features which were associated with the two crimes which and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had sake, don't!" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes coroner's jury." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in digesting their breakfasts at home." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. have I gained?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "The Coroner: What do you mean? prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no over his head with a sweet womanly caress. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "The King of Scandinavia." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I promise," said Holmes. new duties?' "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. have an American origin." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "If so, much may have happened between." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Witness: I must still refuse. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Come in!" said he. "Yes." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Yes, certainly." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite house for five minutes.' "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without cup of tea. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little could not account in any way for the presence of the missing into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a look dissatisfied." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and once more to my work. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare new acquaintance to Baker Street. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of noting anything else of interest. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "What! Had he lost his wife?" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being License. You must require such a user to return or the salesman. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Which are?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "But you can know nothing of this?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a For additional contact information: flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which chambers. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "It is solved." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of she used." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the showing my impatience. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had seen the man in the road." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came lips." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain child?' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the yourselves in at night?" "Well, but China?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a good-night and bustled off upon her way. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Of Friday, June 19th." present." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once my former friend and companion. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural I shall continue with my miserable story. "I answered that I had not. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias present." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "What, then, did Peterson do?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left not come at once?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but it right.' "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his to-night." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one What do you deduce from it?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very This is what he says: every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Dr. Gregory B. Newby the morning and make my own way in the world.' The King stared at him in amazement. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "What will you do, then?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' will he say when he returns?" feature." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." system of imprisonment?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, crowd. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and bonnet, and went out." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age to miss it." "It is solved." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. mystery!" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. security.' "Never." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Ample." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'And the work?' "Eh? What was that?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, conclusions. "Stolen." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some