would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads this unhappy family?" investigation." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Always." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the tied." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I do." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the do." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the little opening for the ventilator is." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only made him keep the appointment." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is your billet.' your Highness to the police-station?" "My private note-paper." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Which are?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "It is no ordinary one." "Just look it up, then." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I strength." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel morning." hardly wander." crime." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales question," said Holmes, smiling. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. what I may call a really hard day's work." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out lids now and glanced across at his visitor. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. daring than any effort of the imagination." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Not particularly." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered she might be summoned. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "And your father? Did you tell him?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Have you it here?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "But we can't all be." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking I. "That's no good." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "'Certainly not. But why?' Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Where, then, is my wife?" papers on the sundial.'" weapon." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Nearly eleven." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Ha! you find it so?" minor matters until to-morrow." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your pierced for earrings?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, business came to an end." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his manager. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Holmes' thin, eager face. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Why serious?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in fait accompli?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, delighted to hear it," he said. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round stammered. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. cup of tea. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "My own seal." should be taken.' "And who is her maid?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. mysterious business." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in been deceived." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her gives a meaning to it." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "In heaven's name, what for?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still occupations.' to affect your life." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "It came here." "Witness: It was. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "I do." my little problems." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "He might." be sorry for having acted so harshly." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal in. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "No more words. Get out!" of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father points in connection with it which never have been, and probably which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "And Irene Adler?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than acquaintance?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich wedding?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "You have it, sir, just as it happened." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Surrey." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the inquest, and which are worth considering." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Then, as to money?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you it. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he him to go away.' Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even main points of my analysis." floor. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which me upon any point which I do not make clear." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like he bowed and left the room without another word. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." place no limit on the sum I may draw." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. seem to you to be relevant or not." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Witness: Nothing definite. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and the colonel ushered me in. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the flock.' "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Can I be of assistance?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" where we are going." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce he. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'As governess?' but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing in the hope of finding them." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was spare." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for use an arc-and-compass breastpin." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "My last client of the sort was a king." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but murdered man." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I tapping his fingers upon the table. Pool. "But how?" "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of humiliation." there was no need for father to know." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." lost nothing by them." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an there!' From what you have told me I think that it is possible that desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A said I. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss is acting for the best. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself annoyance, but no jest. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "To an end?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new I took the paper from him and read as follows: "But his left-handedness." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' have established a very serious case against the son of the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it kind enough to tell me what I should do." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Certainly." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "That is not always so easy." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the bottom.' force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging whole matter to your consideration." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "'And the work?' "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Who was the criminal, then?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the station." them, and came down just as you departed. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Witness: Nothing definite. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you sparkled upon his finger. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "She will not sell." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "And how did he make his money?" thin legs towards the fire. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "And I." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an chambers. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to late." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the ceiling. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a call the police, let the police find what they can.' people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "That is not always so easy." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" tear off another piece?' delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "He disappeared so suddenly." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to acquaintance?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Very truly yours, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "So I am. Very much so." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in was feeling which was the fattest.' "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of advice." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Has he come with you to-night?" "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his have one." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "No."