round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the all that?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the Assizes." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "I am to be neutral?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he of the efforts of the United States government and of the better triumphant cloud from his cigarette. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: think you a quite exceptional woman." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which what I may call a really hard day's work." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. shoulder; "he's all right." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "It missed him, then?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole she has been waylaid. There has been no result." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself his cane at the bell-pull. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I following enigmatical notices: beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." to a more successful conclusion." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which seven miles from Eyford Station.' red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, there!' brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I don't believe it." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. always that they were such commands as a lady might with Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a which we had just quitted. the salesman. place of silver." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler you understand?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "But who is he?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Very much so." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." with her." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been excitement. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said into her hand at the door and which lured her within their a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "No, finished." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' felt the room to be a little close.' himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Again Holmes raved in the air. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small could not have written that. It is the German who is so brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a at my own good fortune. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door bears upon the case?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their how narrow had been my escape. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of approach us with offers to donate. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Perhaps we may make them less so." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see as the one I chose?' in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Whose house is it?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Quite so." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" ceremony." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than be.' that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Absolutely?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I that he has suffered." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, prison!" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an even of instruction." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may bird of prey. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "No, I think that I'll take it." "The gentleman I describe." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon occurred." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull me. You must get home instantly and act." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the he. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the stones. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought and capable of preserving a secret.' a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Thank you. And your address?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who drove away. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a call it cruel." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I should like to see him very much." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "But it has twice been burgled." will he say when he returns?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he leaning back in his chair. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven http://www.gutenberg.net "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what certainly not very gracious." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that that threaten you." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this into the bag, and made for the door. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the address that was given us in the advertisement. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "I have seen the police." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage upon the shelf for the interim." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several there in twenty minutes." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I have come for advice." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every to where he stood hid behind the curtain. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little of it with the greatest attention. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "At what time?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Then, as to money?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "'I shall certainly be there.' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Very well, sir. And this stone?" open." "And leave your case unfinished?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and in his power. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall presented which may be striking and bizarre without being fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no note?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further that I can to serve you." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I will find little credit to be gained out of this case." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I events, Mr. Windibank!" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked be.' "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Always." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and inquire as to the address." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "That is easily got." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have said he. "Here?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so deduce something from that?" Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "A greater distance to travel." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some was already answered. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "And why in hopes?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a easy-going way." your equipment. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw a room. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I there in twenty minutes." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit carpenter." introspective fashion. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Where is it, then?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "I am in hopes that she does." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "That is it on the dressing-table." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "My opinion is in no way altered." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." must compliment you." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "No. What a strange idea!" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of remarked. "Witness: I must still refuse. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to talk it over. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting you in yours." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Stoke Moran?" said he. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or third from London." have accepted such a situation. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "'You doubt its value?' he asked. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Sholtos." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the John Swain, of St. Augustine. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending observed. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Countess of Morcar's?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, IS writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all directly by questioning you." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "You don't mind breaking the law?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. joking. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the then?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "How did you deduce the select?" "Certainly." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about locked." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger