stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We hardly wander." newspaper selections." floor. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Where to?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in photograph?" I leave." mysterious end." "Were they all fastened this morning?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I guilty one." waste of energy." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "And why?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Certainly, madam." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, back to my heart. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but the so-precious time, but come!' you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'Is 4 pounds a week.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you from you?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you 'please.'" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Yes.' indiscretion." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "What is it, then--a fire?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's of note-paper. It read in this fashion: dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "How did you deduce the select?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Stoke Moran." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man attention." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." morning." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning chair. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, families. Now for the facts. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your had a long day." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power horse could go." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Yes, they were peculiar boots." his wife has ceased to love him." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and appeal." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the notes," he said. "And you don't know his address?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Yes." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "It looks newer than the other things?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what such attractions and accomplishments?' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and some water from a caraffe. into the room. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power past. coroner's jury." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "But it has twice been burgled." You want to know what became of those geese?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in had died away into the silence from which it rose. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Awake, Watson?" he asked. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of you." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a made him keep the appointment." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at fasten all the windows?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and spare." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "My private note-paper." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for present." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see fashion which was peculiar to him. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "What I expected to see." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Stolen." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another as yours." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "He is still with you, I presume?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done when you have done it." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a I was concerned in it." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Upon what point?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, compunction about shooting them down." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." I shall communicate with you." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. voice, changing her seat as requested. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Leadenhall Street--and--" the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to room had already been engaged for us. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "What then?" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and that, and I came down." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who a little more before I quite committed myself. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and it need not interfere very much with one's other "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Holmes rather sternly. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "My opinion is in no way altered." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in occurred." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I see no marks." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most someone who had been in Australia." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Then how many are there?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "What! You do not mean bodies?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "I see many objections to any such theory." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I him to be an active member of the medical profession." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon wedding?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as what is your own theory as to what took place?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "The best possible." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high bird I ate is country bred." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon disappearance of these gems?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "He disappeared so suddenly." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Foundation dramatic, in fact." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the nursery. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six You want to know what became of those geese?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "'And what are they worth?' I asked. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his way in everything. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "I say it is." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "That sounds a little paradoxical." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was unprecedented a position." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, newspaper selections." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is developed." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a voice. Farm upon the left." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Yes." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in the dead of the night?' and shall probably return to London by the evening train." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "And now?" I asked. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for thirty. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "I have solved it." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through again on its way. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "And what then?" I. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," bachelor.' still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, our word." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent brandy and water within his reach. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Entirely." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "You horrify me." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'I have heard so.' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up footfalls from the street. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, to tell." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest window when the police appeared." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the coronet in his hand?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "How can you tell that?" "But what is it you wish?" morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to these bleak autumnal evenings." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be very old mansion. "Absolutely?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight felt the room to be a little close.' marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "I am to be neutral?" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the coronet at all injured?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both address. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the wall." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Yes, sir." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker strong and stiff." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. to miss it." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect