they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some passage and a tap at the door. "Do you know him?" "It must be recovered." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'About the same.' "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," dramatic, in fact." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "'How far from the body?' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Sutherland?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would ventilator." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Whose house is it?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and all that?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt indeed which he could not unravel. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated danger is over." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'About the same.' "Pray continue your narrative." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "It missed him, then?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. detective. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "No, I think that I'll take it." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Did you become engaged then?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler narrative." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "How about poison?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Surrey." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies breakfast." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Yes." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any for its centre. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank breakfast." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from them, and came down just as you departed. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should green of the new foliage. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Your sister is dead, then?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and little trying to do so much typewriting?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the carpenter." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Breckinridge is his name." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" been deceived." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the very morning of the wedding." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'Most admirably.' into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a as this. Pray let me have the details." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing secret." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "No, I am descending." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Nearly eleven." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Where does the thing come from?' the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what happened." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, such person." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was in this note: self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him in a very precise fashion." to arrive at through this?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he matter." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Yes. He waved his hands." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate instituted." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an success. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "It must be recovered." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of prison!" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Where did you address your letters, then?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Stolen, then." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "I am all attention, madam." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. there!' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of wedding?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already written, and locked the door of the office after me. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. will be renamed. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "'Where could I find him?' thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Lestrade of Scotland Yard." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the head. So long, then!" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three notes," he said. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Nothing." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Yes, he did." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a than to us. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Well." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in presented more singular features than that which was associated hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She it." that?' slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the very old mansion. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "A thing like a cleaver," said he. is," said he presently: heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such depend upon my doing so.' of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich go back?" determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "What is it, then--a fire?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "But you can know nothing of this?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Does that suggest anything?" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's woven round him. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at village inn over there?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he relation between them, and what the object of his repeated in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and kindly on the shoulder. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "At the wedding breakfast." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of events than those which have happened in my own family." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." something of him before." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. that there was nothing in it, after all." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest out of this horrible affair." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if habit of advancing money.' attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "10th. John Swain cleared. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Literary Archive Foundation the armchair which I pushed forward for him. your Highness to the police-station?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" stepfather?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Again Holmes raved in the air. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and letters?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in in. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug man. I know him from the photograph." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and have not had my rubber." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as wedding?" suspect him." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true there was no need for father to know." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which an introduction to him?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that works. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Why, what do you mean?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "You were travelling in the States?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, will be renamed. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never come either from the window or the door. My attention was populous neighbourhood." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Certainly." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical over with notes and figures. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely held up the lantern and gazed about him. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock is," said he presently: Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been vault. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the from you?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an awaited us upon the table. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To place of silver." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the bed, and you in that chair." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid arms and began to sob in a high treble key. call for it in person on Monday morning.' his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to know what is wrong with it.' thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe