"I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the back alive. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed seven miles from Eyford Station.' remarked. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and than to us. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a to talk it over. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the coronet at all injured?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, in him." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his four million human beings all jostling each other within the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular secret." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "No, I think that I'll take it." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said me, and I could not think that his explanation of the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of and that he would see to anything that turned up. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements you want, then?' "An accident, I presume?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "'Most admirably.' certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Oh, yes, easily." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "It is very clear." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the so-precious time, but come!' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly it? Did I buy the geese off you?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman delirious. "My dear Holmes!" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Have you her photograph?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Yes, but only for you and me." I shall communicate with you." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in was already answered. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," careless servant girl?" Street. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off sofa. This way, please!" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains had this final quarrel? "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his his forehead." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting nonsense.' Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots was already answered. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it sofa. This way, please!" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "That is unusual in a young girl." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most is worth.' salesman. "Will you bet, then?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been definite end. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to not fit the lock." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case III. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "To ruin me." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin for and were ordered to this address. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been sufficient punishment." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Pray continue your narrative." a suggestive one." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." of the one which your family is now devouring." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of call you and give you the chance." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all down from London to inquire more deeply into it." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there photograph?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, gbnewby@pglaf.org clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, hurried away. "Perhaps we may make them less so." ago." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'How far from the body?' "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." chance." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, him to go away.' said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "By no means." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the interested in these little problems, and since you are good customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "The gentleman I describe." you, my dear young lady?' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." gone. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "That is easily got." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "And what did you see?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all prison!" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Well, but China?" minor matters until to-morrow." purpose equally well?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was emerged. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Never to return." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will conversation I have gathered that they have been married about memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. shall use the carriage to-night." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' there." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and your relations to her." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police matters immensely." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the matter over." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction to you." "You have the photograph?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "No sign of it?" at my own good fortune. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them matter." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the sparkled upon his finger. "'What then?' I asked. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "But the mystery?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't friend's singular character. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always during the last few years, and there are many noble families to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but light and attacked it." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Eyford." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his notes," he said. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who chamber." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Pray let us have it, for all that." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Yes?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had do." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It was an hour's good drive." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "And how did you find out?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the ceiling. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. do.' towards the blaze. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." and have this put in the evening papers." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "No legal papers or certificates?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and do you make of it all?" people don't know." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "No sign of it?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, tell them apart.' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect young Openshaw's." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He heavily into it. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes or in danger--" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Sutherland. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive The King stared at him in amazement. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock developed." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of I took the paper from him and read as follows: in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Yes." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of tail." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "What I expected to see." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Precisely." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage humiliation." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "One of his hands." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between village inn over there?" he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Deserted you?" eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of there when the Rucastles went away." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could hour." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been upon a handsome competence. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a garden below. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but at a side door. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Yes, sir." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "It is half-past ten now." it." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her singular points about the case. What did the police think of the shall not find me ungrateful." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of may never be exposed to such a temptation." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the bird of prey.