estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical room. that you wished to speak to me?' said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will taking in every detail of the apartment. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at pierced for earrings?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "He is dead," cried several voices. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that tell them apart.' To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible a room. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "And who is her maid?" tied." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without purpose equally well?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to seven miles from Eyford Station.' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. it right.' ashen face. British peeress.'" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't said he. business?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing fire. You quite follow me?" "Pray do so." "Not I." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he existence." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that as the one I chose?' "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is it." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying used to be." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Very murderous indeed." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for pound a week." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some my secret was safe in his possession. you understand?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and all of them with the keenest interest. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really that the gas is not laid on in his house?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and no precautions can guard against." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. chance." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have accepted such a situation. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Certainly." "His face fell immediately. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Only as much as we can deduce." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "But he might be a bachelor." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this again on its way. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I little trying to do so much typewriting?" of it with the greatest attention. "It is very clear." name is different." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I have hopes." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Come in!" said he. your co-operation." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Yes." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'Then let me do so?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into this poor creature." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Thank you. And your address?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Witness: It was. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "What then?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself him. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I was certainly surprised to find you there." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I she slowly sank and died without having recovered her was not a bird to be seen there. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "I think that it is very probable." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, letters?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would in the hope of finding them." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. populous neighbourhood." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. him to be an active member of the medical profession." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." that, and I came down." "By train from Waterloo." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and distinguish the words: to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate in my life." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen very peculiar words of the dying woman?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square way in everything. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew what I may call a really hard day's work." It may be so in this case, also." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to vanished into the darkness. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the more terrible than the truth. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Where, indeed?" little adventures." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Holmes' room. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "And on what day did he meet his death?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." father's young wife. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and all of them with the keenest interest. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure someone who had been in Australia." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, notes," he said. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I asked with his eyes open. "Precisely so. But how--" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the meant." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss giving me time to thank him. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the tear off another piece?' "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak as this. Pray let me have the details." strength of mind to control. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Ten to two.' "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" conduct the inquiry." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help one of them." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "I was afraid that you were engaged." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the loss of it. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "It is very kind of you." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having there was no need for father to know." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a details." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy locked. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send fait accompli?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you was not a bird to be seen there. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I if she died from some sudden fright." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if we went to search for him, face downward in a little a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. him!" maiden herself was most instructive." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Surrey." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for excitement. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. to-night's adventure." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the tapping his fingers upon the table. people don't know." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." o'clock is it?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the young Openshaw's." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." your most interesting statement." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is me. You must get home instantly and act." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' so far?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since that, and I came down." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." locked." "And how in the world did you find them?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs the station." than to us. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. weary and pale-looking. have an American origin." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous him. be sorry for having acted so harshly." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich closing the door. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my happened." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Have you her photograph?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "The murder was done with it." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked The telegram which we eventually received came late one night smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Witness: I must still refuse. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Can I be of assistance?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers pound a week." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with wife's character?" "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the ceiling. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which had no one to advise her at such a crisis." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled in one or two places in England?' "And for present expenses?" is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his any little problem which you may submit to me." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some again, where I was soon asleep. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Pray let us have it, for all that." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." felt the room to be a little close.' that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, rooms." introspective fashion. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the matter?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick of Mr. Rucastle's." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual at my own good fortune. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast to his chemical studies. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "But his lameness?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have lamp. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the coronet in his hand?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no returning from some small jollification and was making his way as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand was shining brightly. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "It was." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "'Oh, no.' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of is a common subject for conversation. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. it right.' touch that coronet?' We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Yes, it would be as well." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My the so-precious time, but come!' or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his