drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" conceal it?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Very much so." During two years I have had three consultations and one small one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek was used.' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss breakfast." "Not yet." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll his forehead." or in danger--" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could fuss that is made over them." lost his Christmas dinner." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "And now?" He raised his hand. behind me. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Eh? What was that?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a sentimental considerations in the background which would induce him, that man would not have given me such complete information II. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Just look it up, then." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Can I be of assistance?" his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently DISSOLVED. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn IS which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I say that I have solved it." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" signal between you and your father? adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting could not account in any way for the presence of the missing which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Oh, yes, easily." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He careless servant girl?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, so far?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of presume?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. one of them." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers will be renamed. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "We must have a cab." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Bought." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover these bleak autumnal evenings." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "She told me to ask you." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Pray continue your narrative." your equipment. copied or distributed: electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our outside. manager. have one." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Witness: I must still refuse. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and shall probably return to London by the evening train." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "And you thought he was pulled back?" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him handed it to him. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately the dangers which encompass me." "It is very kind of you." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the one as in the other." "Precisely so. But how--" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. lost nothing by them." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to companion imperturbably. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "An enemy?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. o'clock is it?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not outsides of the windows. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "And you can do nothing until then?" October 9, 1890. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very annoyance, but no jest. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke such attractions and accomplishments?' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "But how?" status with the IRS. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he crime." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to detective. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable ready to-morrow?' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Proceed, then." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the system of imprisonment?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an which our visitor detailed to us. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my astonishment. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Where is it, then?" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? in this note: did not hear it also.' and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down sparkled upon his finger. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" said Mr. Holder. Serpentine Avenue. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "And why in hopes?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most instituted." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business strength in the others." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what or in danger--" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "I cannot say that I have." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of matter over." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman business came to an end." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded photograph?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate introspective fashion. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "None." "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the running down." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to is so. I know all about McCarthy." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting DAMAGE. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is nonsense.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it as he remarks, very much against the son." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the and laid it on the table. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another problems help me to do so." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the child." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "My private note-paper." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found in one or two places in England?' instituted." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" sparkled upon his finger. "And the cigar-holder?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from a good hundred miles off by now." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with asked with his eyes open. "You will not go there first?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she when your master had gone out." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "What are they?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after ventilator." joking. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "If I can be of use." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to I held the little printed slip to the light. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to you." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some asked. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the matter?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "But the mystery?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only of Fenchurch Street." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, points to suicide?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Will you bet, then?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his front of the hall door has given its name to the place. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. up this clue while it is still hot." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year that "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the dangers which encompass me." than to us. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "I would pay ten." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of this poor creature." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm mystery!" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the someone who had been in Australia." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "It came here." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which waste of energy." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. maid will bring up your coffee." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the may have an influence upon European history." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "I don't say that. Perhaps." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." enter into my head. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up