business came to an end." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'Then let me do so?' arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Won't it ring?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Do you go out much in society?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. tell him that I know him to be innocent." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of forehead. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" or in danger--" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it and files of the old papers, following the future career of every sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and yet." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace which was all perfectly true. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of despaired of." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "It is possible." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in in this way: incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as noble correspondent could be. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. shall not find me ungrateful." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent stood on the top of it. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the inquest, and which are worth considering." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "How are you getting on?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "'There is a drive, then?' "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his unprofitable." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "But of what society?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Street. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, it would be as well." are, and they are waiting for us." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, you give your casting vote to?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have of." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the salesman. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my sooner or later she must fall a victim. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an awaited us upon the table. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, annoyance, but no jest. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can meant it for the best. go--none." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only believe that I should never have any practice at all. tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Certainly." good for you to do.' persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I say that I have solved it." corner of the building. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Where is it, then?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage appeal." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Not him." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." disappearance of these gems?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which placed his cuttings. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we just ask you whether you had heard it.' promised to bring home. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." on in his house." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Ten will be early enough." strode off upon his way. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I something of him before." "'And the work?' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes, there are nearly always some there." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," States. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own States. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the coroner come to?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid your troubles." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "But what harm can there be in that?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" minor matters until to-morrow." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Yes?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I am all attention, madam." "You were travelling in the States?" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" ordinary clothes on?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you window when the police appeared." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Eyford at 11:15.' if I call to-morrow?" is," said he presently: mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the it." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he begin with, and I had not got mine yet." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "A greater distance to travel." foot. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Again Holmes raved in the air. your billet.' roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for take the flies, but not before." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. passage and a tap at the door. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to emerged. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." them?" stammered. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "And how did you verify them?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, long narrative. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to would then never go into court at all." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in are windows in it, of course?" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "But what is it you wish?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was ways including including checks, online payments and credit card She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly see me here to avoid scandal." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "But he might be a bachelor." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." could go. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Yes." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Witness: It was. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced which we had just quitted. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I have a cab outside." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "I am following you closely," I answered. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "At the wedding breakfast." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in me have 200 pounds?' or in danger--" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, business matters.' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and that he would see to anything that turned up. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small situation." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told newspaper selections." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "And when will you call?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets tied." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "And Irene Adler?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." other lovers by making love himself." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you him and tried to hold him back. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture important." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. look upon these things in a different way." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the asked. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Nothing?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." breakfast?" must be when I saw the door open.' have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you acquaintance?" to change my dress. depend upon my doing so.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many main points of my analysis." any more." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if get her out of the way." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my any little problem which you may submit to me." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." British peeress.'" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on opened a pocket-book and took out a note. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'Entirely.' recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the house for five minutes.' "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. lamp. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" key turn in the lock." have one." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his joking. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 what I may call a really hard day's work." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I am armed." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. writers could invent nothing more crude." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, his eyes and forehead. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Pray do so." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the for and were ordered to this address. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this not, dad?" she asked. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "When did she vanish, then?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "In which, sir?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next she slowly sank and died without having recovered her ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I written, and locked the door of the office after me. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, ago." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: could not account in any way for the presence of the missing is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "'What then?' I asked. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "No, my brougham is waiting." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in crowd. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a over here." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding meanly of me." she to prove their authenticity?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from night.' said he. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "No, distinctly professional." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be advice." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is me what he had done with the three missing stones. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr.