"And how have you succeeded?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but than to us. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to said he. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Yes, only one." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Leadenhall Street--and--" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest go--none." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "If so, much may have happened between." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, joking. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "And how?" trying to your nerves." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "You have it, sir, just as it happened." stalked out of the room. felt the room to be a little close.' the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally Holmes rather sternly. manager. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of developed." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very yourselves in at night?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before eat it." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell must be when I saw the door open.' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Pope's Court, Fleet Street." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which been with you?" drove away. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Yes, they were peculiar boots." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Game for a morning drive?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the stammered. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place could not have written that. It is the German who is so arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. and laid it on the table. pierced for earrings?" as he remarks, very much against the son." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. row." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "I don't believe it." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are late." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Lee, in the county of Kent." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'Yes, sir.' to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the window, rose as we entered. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Have you good authority for what you say?" might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at fasten all the windows?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in and all of them with the keenest interest. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of children over to America with him, so that I found myself without on in his house." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'I have already given you my word.' charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this public press." quite distinctive." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "May I see it?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the inner apartment." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite touch that coronet?' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" business at Coburg Square is serious." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Won't it ring?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance like that before?" that he has suffered." that I may have something better before very many minutes are facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears train.' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Look there!" said he. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid was shining brightly. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Won't it ring?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Then I can wait in the next room." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and are windows in it, of course?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that when you have done it." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias occupations.' have been better. It is all right." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be tassel actually lying upon the pillow. allusion to a rat. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until point in the dark hollow of his hand. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Where did he live, then?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean beyond words. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange directly by questioning you." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk children over to America with him, so that I found myself without his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a to surprise her." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "But you can know nothing of this?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Yes." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. copied or distributed: or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to tied." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable fear." but preventing her from injuring another. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I be.' became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "If I can be of use." "And I say east," said my patient. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "A call for help, you thought?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Arthur Conan Doyle while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I held the little printed slip to the light. "You have carte blanche." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very think you a quite exceptional woman." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I searched, without anything being found which could incriminate public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents about. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of photograph?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater outbreak?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open guilty parties." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "How did you deduce the select?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" second." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "ARAT," I read. "And why in hopes?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are tightly behind him. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Holmes rather sternly. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined humiliation." have accepted such a situation. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit swore that no one else had been in the front room during the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which breakfast?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his his forehead." remarked. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. indiscretion." will take you up to see the machine.' or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a noble correspondent could be. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Then I shall certainly come." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Yes?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Mary, has deserted me." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, imbecility!" he cried. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid strange features which were associated with the two crimes which which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan I shall communicate with you." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Not I." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was II. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of question you as to those details which seem to me to be most the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too God! What an exposure! What can I do?" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little excitement. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "In the cells." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Most admirably.' known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "But the mystery?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "You are hungry," I remarked. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see seen the man in the road." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." affection." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler chill to my heart. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert handed it to him. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself envelope. particular state visit http://pglaf.org of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look his grey eyes. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay;