and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a distinguish the words: "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two over with notes and figures. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on as this. Pray let me have the details." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest she to prove their authenticity?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I him to be an active member of the medical profession." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this instincts rose up against that laugh. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "'Yes, sir.' along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "My private note-paper." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "The Coroner: What do you mean? folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case I have it here in my museum." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Yes." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I forehead. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more 11:15.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just his cane at the bell-pull. "Where to?" think, you have already met." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to such attractions and accomplishments?' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his would apply.' far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What it." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at off." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a clanging. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the your co-operation." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Lee, in the county of Kent." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, might help us?" "Come in!" said Holmes. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and something of him before." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of hour?' your bag." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit ordinary clothes on?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'How far from the body?' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the child." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Yes, from Horsham." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia with you alone." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do him, that man would not have given me such complete information "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell presume?" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite on in his house." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "What will you do, then?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I fear." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I fear not." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Yes." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place more terrible than the truth. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I His name is Francis Prosper." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, outsides of the windows. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "And now?" I asked. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in My friend smiled. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Nearly eleven." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case all-comprehensive glances. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "There is the writing." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Mary, has deserted me." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Did you observe the colour?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of straighten it?" habit of advancing money.' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully sparkled upon his finger. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little would apply.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore questioning and rather startled gaze. Holmes' thin, eager face. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "In which, sir?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town done what I asked you, Jones?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." his face. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond made his money." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is this remarkable episode. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, place of silver." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Then let me do so?' as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down I nodded to show that I had heard. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "'Yes, sir.' thirty. asked. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital him to go away.' "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who it." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my John Swain, of St. Augustine. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? 1.E.9. the stable lane now." case-book, which he consulted. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I of campaign. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "We have tried and failed." "In what way?" asked Holmes. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom silent! Oh, he will be silent!' opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for than was visible to me." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. indeed happy." "It is possible." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a occurred." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may lamp. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused and shall probably return to London by the evening train." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were breakfast." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual true." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. she to prove their authenticity?" crime." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round himself. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, he. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just be.' "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said little adventures." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Then you may be so with me." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. new acquaintance to Baker Street. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, child?' "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his business in the City. She little knew what. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, flock.' hardly wander." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" that he has suffered." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of guilty parties." narrative." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "No, but the enclosure is." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the out." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to of." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "You horrify me!" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other goes." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "No good news?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold gone before you can get him to hospital." "Have you it here?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the Assizes." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Will you bet, then?" not come at once?" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'Ample.' breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left the inquest, and which are worth considering." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, drawing your inferences." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "And now?" He raised his hand. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The photograph?" I shall communicate with you." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and me." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A place no limit on the sum I may draw." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the night.' walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his until night should bring an explanation. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up had a long day." gives a meaning to it." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the voice, changing her seat as requested. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. that there was nothing in it, after all." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the warnings." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by seven miles from Eyford Station.' It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Have you it here?" Holmes rather sternly. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried as yours." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. lectures into a series of tales." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any persecution?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Precisely so. But how--"