red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call 'please.'" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" jewels which you have stolen?' "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should go back?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it into the bag, and made for the door. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is to miss it." go--none." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after would then never go into court at all." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Oh, no.' This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own back into the street. "Yes?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks that there was nothing in it, after all." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "And for present expenses?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place into her hand at the door and which lured her within their He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. suspect him." meant." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can page at http://pglaf.org with the outside air!" himself. round and wave him away like that.' "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "To an English lawyer named Norton." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe during that time.' present." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The was shining brightly. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one them?" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the upon the white wrist. help us in this matter." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of said he at last. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "What?" second window is the one that I jumped from." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss business in the City. She little knew what. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Yes, but only for you and me." "I am following you closely," I answered. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it The events in question occurred in the early days of my As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. way in everything. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of with you?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "One?" "Did your wife hear all this?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy which are rolled in Rotterdam." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, have had none more fantastic than this." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "How can you tell that?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy you want, then?' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of a good hundred miles off by now." Sutherland. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. bird of prey. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Was your sister dressed?" "So I am. Very much so." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "But what will you do?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, weighed down with some great anxiety. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "What can it mean?" I gasped. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and disappearance of these gems?" III. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I am following you closely," I answered. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but there when the Rucastles went away." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the do.' can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'And the work?' upon a handsome competence. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Pray let us have it, for all that." eavesdroppers?' upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend crime. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of nothing of it?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that this remarkable episode. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "How long did she speak to this Alice?" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with question. hard-headed British jury." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both spare." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." death." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Indeed! Whose, then?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "What then?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "There are none." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a His smile broadened. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, my special province." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge now. It seems that there had been some informality about their will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the general public were present, then?" "Murdered?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and as the one I chose?' emerged. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "None." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." most interesting one." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his of Fenchurch Street." coat-tails." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Always." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "How are you getting on?" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your letters?" in his power. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' which are rolled in Rotterdam." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall to take care of herself." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Quite so." coroner's jury." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "That is unusual in a young girl." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my young Openshaw's." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. official police." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Which are?" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor fact, we may call it conclusive." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' the stable lane now." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched appeal." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." spark where all is dark to me." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'Why that?' I asks. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. outside." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter thin legs towards the fire. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, door?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as developed." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the been able to understand it, in a very few words. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Certainly." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Thank you. Pray proceed." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such such attractions and accomplishments?' with her." "But she could not love him." quick march!" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I unprecedented a position." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "It is true that I have been generally successful." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a ago." "'What do you call purely nominal?' from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Is he quiet?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged was a loud and authoritative tap. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a forehead. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a examine." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Edgeware Road. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry vanished into the darkness. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that bell. Holmes whistled. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "It is true that I have been generally successful." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "And Irene Adler?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Sutherland. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself