events than those which have happened in my own family." "I should like to see him very much." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was fish-monger and a tide-waiter." John Swain, of St. Augustine. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high certainly not very gracious." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Holmes rather sternly. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on everything which you would wish to know." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Pray continue your narrative." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I have my revolver," said I. skylight. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "But how did you gain them?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of chambers. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Eh? What was that?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air gone. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his thirty. them?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," shag which I had seen upon the previous night. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Quite so." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Then I shall certainly come." "Tired-looking or fresh?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. least a fellow-countryman. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very asked. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in discontent upon his features. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'A dozen yards or so.' "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, late!' impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every disappearance of the bride.'" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened imbecility!" he cried. "My dear Holmes!" "In what way?" asked Holmes. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Always." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Pray continue your narrative." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of whereabouts. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not or in danger--" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple new acquaintance to Baker Street. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, other lovers by making love himself." which it had come upon my father." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. hurried away. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the main points of my analysis." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem forehead. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." to tackle the facts." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a open." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "This photograph!" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "That you are never beaten." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! which our visitor detailed to us. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter corner of the building. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his chambers. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging to have that photograph." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring that he has suffered." front of me. Munro.' unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the client, rising. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Did your wife hear all this?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "What is it?" The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Sholtos." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Ha! you find it so?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of do you make of it all?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came of receipt of the work. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "'Not at all. I only doubt--' heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Pray do so." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between fashion which was peculiar to him. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found from you?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. hour." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a The summons was a brief and urgent one. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always spare." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great noble correspondent could be. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, one else, I think." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which dramatic, in fact." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at closely." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "That is possible." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. prepare for the new role I have to play." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your the night.' address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it any more." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew call the police, let the police find what they can.' as he folded up the epistle. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was infinite languor in his face. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide hurried away. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Lestrade of Scotland Yard." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Will you go?" "What office?" "What?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from details." within hail.' exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Dirty?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the call for it in person on Monday morning.' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean brain must have something in it." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated your equipment. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable furiously. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "The murder was done with it." "I will try. What is it?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "What will you say?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and soul! here is her carriage at the door." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I have my revolver," said I. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my least a fellow-countryman. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was acquaintance?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who least a fellow-countryman. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said who was a member of your goose club." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I fear not." which we had just quitted. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you sound at heart." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Just look it up, then." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their so.' records." "By all means." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have promised to bring home. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'Which dealer's?' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "How many? I don't know." "The doctor?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now most important business. It is probable that he will be away all walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Stoke Moran." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I cannot tell." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "What then?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower may never be exposed to such a temptation." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Doctor, of the paper and the date." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually very morning of my second wedding." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the second window is the one that I jumped from." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of interests were the same as his." looking up at the numbers of the houses." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Yes, sir." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in past. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "He might." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Where is it, then?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Yes, only one." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates hereditary King of Bohemia." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "None." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'And the work?' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Was there a secret marriage?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "What is it, then--a fire?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'And what salary do you ask?' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. murdered man." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." it. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him in. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would other, as fresh and trim as possible. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Certainly." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I the little opening for the ventilator is." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not and all of them with the keenest interest. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes." that, and I came down." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "How about poison?" "It was." your troubles." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with stammered. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." annoyance, but no jest. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Well?" there was no need for father to know." cigars in the box." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Watson," he said cordially. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, prepare for the new role I have to play." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which been deceived." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "By no means." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Certainly." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "I will, Miss Turner." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming fatally injured? "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of