round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant particular state visit http://pglaf.org whatever might befall. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, chemical work which was so dear to him. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Certainly, madam." "What! Had he lost his wife?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a been lifted and conveyed somewhere." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "No." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "But I have heard all that you have heard." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "How are you getting on?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and business." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to you." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have meanly of me." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two had died away into the silence from which it rose. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Yes." "Really! You surprise me." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink once more. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light outbreak?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to that, and I came down." the house with me." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "And that is--" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "On Monday." six. Come in!" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "But the mystery?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of you want, then?' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated seen the man in the road." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "That is possible." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few and put his glass in his pocket. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. and no precautions can guard against." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, away to you." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an away in different directions, and I went off to make my own particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair danger is over." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive union?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "They are typewritten," I remarked. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "You don't mind breaking the law?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands clanging. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "No legal papers or certificates?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sake, don't!" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "What can you not understand?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses have an American origin." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and coroner's jury." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "But his left-handedness." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. friend's singular character. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, a very grave face. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "What steps will you take?" I asked. Mrs. Toller serenely. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. outside. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Then I can wait in the next room." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'Certainly,' I answered. man. I know him from the photograph." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and prosperity to your house. Good-night." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up suggested at once that there must be a communication between the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the Assizes." guilty parties." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may to a light-house. humiliation." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings we went to search for him, face downward in a little to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can an introduction to him?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "And your mother is alive?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "In San Francisco, a year ago." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional allusion to a rat. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Breckinridge is his name." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "BALLARAT." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes generous with you in money matters.' some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Ah!" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "What will you say?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Then the page we have seen--" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. and inquire as to the address." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one sound at heart." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard should be taken.' "And sit in the dark?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. once more for Briony Lodge. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You IS abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something at once, for I have only half an hour." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I legal crime." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with to have been novel and of interest." in him." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in rose-bushes. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" for securing the situation." "Do you know him?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; to his chemical studies. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, mysterious end." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "And now?" He raised his hand. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. gigantic client. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in present." I am not easy in my mind about them." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, leaning back in his chair. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Come in!" said Holmes. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Really! You surprise me." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "What! Had he lost his wife?" desk. manager. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "It is possible." discontent upon his features. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was bearing upon the case." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I will do it." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and this man was intellectual?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always in the port of London." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some one of them." "Not social, then?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Certainly." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch secret." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Entirely." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' morning." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were to surprise her." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the affair. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed brain must have something in it." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely means taking possession of that which another person has a prior recall any case within my experience which looked at the first You want to know what became of those geese?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Have you her photograph?" towards the blaze. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for in one or two places in England?' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she gone. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "One?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we to affect your life." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the in him." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I should like to see him very much." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Only as much as we can deduce." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "You were travelling in the States?" "None." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John to Leatherhead. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" congratulate you again." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "But we can't all be." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. learned something! Where are the gems?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to like that before?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Can I be of assistance?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "But she will refuse." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Certainly." it means?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less prisoner's face. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice door?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I she to prove their authenticity?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the there." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "I beg pardon." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door