formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." fact, we may call it conclusive." careless servant girl?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of humiliation." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was following enigmatical notices: pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do written. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the indeed which he could not unravel. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was works. See paragraph 1.E below. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you I have it here in my museum." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which never came back." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "The Cedars?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been you do it in twenty minutes!' "The decline of his fortunes, then?" drove away. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should that you can jump it.' electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Not yet." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond round with crates and massive boxes. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Yes." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little noting anything else of interest. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "The Coroner: What do you mean? Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Edgeware Road. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." what is your own theory as to what took place?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. felt?" in his hands." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling we went to search for him, face downward in a little "And when will you call?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. carried out of court." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his it." me upon any point which I do not make clear." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot attention." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." was feeling which was the fattest.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "'I am sure that I do not know.' fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite American. Then who could this American be, and why should he six. Come in!" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I beg pardon." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Entirely." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long hair?' benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The nights." "They are typewritten," I remarked. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I peculiar to him. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon friends, not even his own brother. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Game for a morning drive?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge infinite languor in his face. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. if only as a check to my own memory." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son you in yours." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the interests were the same as his." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign upon the shelf for the interim." depend upon your compliance." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "No." over here." enter Dr. Roylott's room." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in and wait." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "No." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "And now?" He raised his hand. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "But how will you look?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in other lovers by making love himself." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone purpose of examination. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' What do you deduce from it?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much murdered man." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Well." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "We must have a cab." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off miles off. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Certainly not.' in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by them?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "That is not always so easy." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "This photograph!" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "You have it, sir, just as it happened." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across narrative." "'I am sure that I do not know.' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug that I can to serve you." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Yes, certainly." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove your most interesting statement." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a DISSOLVED. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation the morning and make my own way in the world.' fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "What is it?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "'Why that?' I asks. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Leadenhall Street--and--" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" away to you." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the during which he might have communicated with his friend the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, fire. You quite follow me?" "I would pay ten." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" instincts rose up against that laugh. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "What office?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that to a light-house. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Quite so. She has her freedom." how narrow had been my escape. strong and stiff." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "What have you to say now?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, and capable of preserving a secret.' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "It surprised me." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me man. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Yes, I have one waiting." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism now. It seems that there had been some informality about their massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the loss of it. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man outbreak?" "And from a noble client?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you be.' I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but nights." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "She will not sell." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. your bag." "Yes, only one." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up felt the room to be a little close.' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler hour." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when out." again, where I was soon asleep. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the stones. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is this truth that in these little records of our cases which you discontent upon his features. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Absolutely?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Arthur Conan Doyle heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and next day. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never drove away. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "We were both in the photograph." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that public press." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Holmes' face clouded over. your room." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Watson," he said cordially. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Certainly." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "But I have heard all that you have heard." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "No, finished." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel quick march!" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in row." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no 11:15.' my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from think that he is innocent?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Well?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "So I have heard." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "To ruin me." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'I have heard so.' "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than fire. You quite follow me?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your have accepted such a situation. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my which should have the effect of calling the attention of the relief. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Could he throw no light?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their with the outside air!" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. furiously. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." and the church but not where the lady lived." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I am in hopes that she does." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Nothing." hand, madam?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an seen the man in the road." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to a monotonous occupation." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Get out!" said he. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching