ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with McCarthy." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "What! You do not mean bodies?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Stolen." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may call it cruel." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," was keenly on my guard against him. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. this man was intellectual?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Eyford." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Edgeware Road. "Will you go?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "This photograph!" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, chair. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such daring than any effort of the imagination." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "You have it, sir, just as it happened." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "No. What a strange idea!" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and second window is the one that I jumped from." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'Most admirably.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I am still in the dark." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two http://gutenberg.net/license). observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "But I am all in the dark." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is meanly of me." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Have you her photograph?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, your bag." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I know where it is." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the four million human beings all jostling each other within the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the seem to you to be relevant or not." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his note?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor stood on the top of it. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Then I shall certainly come." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "My photograph." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Yes." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "You think so, too?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer been." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "And what did you see?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "You are all wrong." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler introspective fashion. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's pierced for earrings?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away shall not find me ungrateful." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Well, but China?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me suddenly upon us." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Yes, it was gone.' my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless my friend's incisive reasoning. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "I answered that I had not. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a it." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'And what are they worth?' I asked. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. that there was nothing in it, after all." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before forbidden door. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before of your young ladies.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the warnings." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the will not take me long to tell. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. strode off upon his way. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that cause to be." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Pray continue your narrative." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "On your arm?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight front of me. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with passage and a tap at the door. "No." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, long narrative. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "I have my revolver," said I. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a your billet.' all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. against a man in the prime of life?" your own bird, so if you wish--" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set them?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive one which it was hard to resist. "9th. McCauley cleared. "And sit in the dark?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but not within a twentieth part of the market price." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, spare." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in garden below. Stoke Moran." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have at my own good fortune. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'I am sure that I do not know.' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "That is unusual in a young girl." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing entirely lost his self-respect." Does that suggest anything?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the King without delay." License. You must require such a user to return or "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my danger is over." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his States. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Not yet." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can opened the door, and slipped through. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight cause to be." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about them present such singular features as the strange train of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that your Highness to the police-station?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. people don't know." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts breakfast?" future lives." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of maid will bring up your coffee." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about think, you have already met." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Well." page at http://pglaf.org those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, http://www.gutenberg.net away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not frequently gained my first real insight into the character of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to get the tickets." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A society." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Get out!" said he. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I gives a meaning to it." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, been deceived." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I have my revolver," said I. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "On the contrary, this is the right side." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small undoubtedly my uncle's." to a more successful conclusion." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Precisely." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, discontent upon his features. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a you came in." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of flock.' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "But how will you look?" whatever might befall. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Well, some hundreds of times." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which to-night." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." very old mansion. all?" throat." door?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me you for a few hours?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I I think that I could be of assistance to you." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I was mad--insane." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." in him." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of